By: Nichols, Hagenbuch, West	S.B. No. 1262
	(In the Senate - Filed February 13, 2025; February 28, 2025,
	read first time and referred to Committee on Education K-16;
	April 14, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee
	Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 10, Nays 0; April 14, 2025,
	sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1262	By:  Creighton

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to measures for ensuring public school safety, including
	the commissioning of peace officers by the Texas Education Agency,
	the composition of the board of directors of the Texas School Safety
	Center, and public school safety and security requirements and
	resources.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Article 2A.001, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
	amended to conform to Section 2, Chapter 624 (H.B. 4372), Section 1,
	Chapter 870 (H.B. 3981), Section 1, Chapter 950 (S.B. 1727), and
	Section 1, Chapter 984 (S.B. 2612), Acts of the 88th Legislature,
	Regular Session, 2023, and is further amended to read as follows:
	Art. 2A.001.  PEACE OFFICERS GENERALLY.  The following are
	peace officers:
	(1)  a sheriff, a sheriff's deputy, or a reserve deputy
	sheriff who holds a permanent peace officer license issued under
	Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;
	(2)  a constable, a deputy constable, or a reserve
	deputy constable who holds a permanent peace officer license issued
	under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;
	(3)  a marshal or police officer of a municipality or a
	reserve municipal police officer who holds a permanent peace
	officer license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;
	(4)  a ranger, officer, or member of the reserve
	officer corps commissioned by the Public Safety Commission and the
	director of the Department of Public Safety;
	(5)  an investigator of a district attorney's, criminal
	district attorney's, or county attorney's office;
	(6)  a law enforcement agent of the Texas Alcoholic
	Beverage Commission;
	(7)  a member of an arson investigating unit
	commissioned by a municipality, a county, or the state;
	(8)  an officer commissioned under Section 37.081 or
	37.0818, Education Code, or Subchapter E, Chapter 51, Education
	Code;
	(9)  an officer commissioned by the Texas Facilities
	Commission;
	(10)  a law enforcement officer commissioned by the
	Parks and Wildlife Commission;
	(11)  an officer commissioned under Chapter 23,
	Transportation Code;
	(12)  a municipal park and recreational patrol officer
	or security officer;
	(13)  a security officer or investigator commissioned
	as a peace officer by the comptroller;
	(14)  an officer commissioned by a water control and
	improvement district under Section 49.216, Water Code;
	(15)  an officer commissioned by a board of trustees
	under Chapter 54, Transportation Code;
	(16)  an investigator commissioned by the Texas Medical
	Board;
	(17)  an officer commissioned by:
	(A)  the board of managers of the Dallas County
	Hospital District, the Tarrant County Hospital District, the Bexar
	County Hospital District, or the El Paso County Hospital District
	under Section 281.057, Health and Safety Code;
	(B)  the board of directors of the Ector County
	Hospital District under Section 1024.117, Special District Local
	Laws Code;
	(C)  the board of directors of the Midland County
	Hospital District of Midland County, Texas, under Section 1061.121,
	Special District Local Laws Code; or
	(D)  the board of hospital managers of the Lubbock
	County Hospital District of Lubbock County, Texas, under Section
	1053.113, Special District Local Laws Code;
	(18)  a county park ranger commissioned under
	Subchapter E, Chapter 351, Local Government Code;
	(19)  an investigator employed by the Texas Racing
	Commission;
	(20)  an officer commissioned under Chapter 554,
	Occupations Code;
	(21)  an officer commissioned by the governing body of
	a metropolitan rapid transit authority under Section 451.108,
	Transportation Code, or a regional transportation authority under
	Section 452.110, Transportation Code;
	(22)  an investigator commissioned by the attorney
	general under Section 402.009, Government Code;
	(23)  a security officer or investigator commissioned
	as a peace officer under Chapter 466, Government Code;
	(24)  an officer appointed by an appellate court under
	Subchapter F, Chapter 53, Government Code;
	(25)  an officer commissioned by the state fire marshal
	under Chapter 417, Government Code;
	(26)  an investigator commissioned by the commissioner
	of insurance under Section 701.104, Insurance Code;
	(27)  an officer appointed by the inspector general of
	[apprehension specialist or inspector general commissioned by] the
	Texas Juvenile Justice Department [as an officer] under Section
	242.102 [or 243.052], Human Resources Code;
	(28)  an officer appointed by the inspector general of
	the Texas Department of Criminal Justice under Section 493.019,
	Government Code;
	(29)  an investigator commissioned by the Texas
	Commission on Law Enforcement under Section 1701.160, Occupations
	Code;
	(30)  a fire marshal or any related officer, inspector,
	or investigator commissioned by a county under Subchapter B,
	Chapter 352, Local Government Code;
	(31)  a fire marshal or any officer, inspector, or
	investigator commissioned by an emergency services district under
	Chapter 775, Health and Safety Code;
	(32)  a fire marshal or any officer, inspector, or
	investigator of a municipality who holds a permanent peace officer
	license issued under Chapter 1701, Occupations Code;
	(33)  an officer commissioned by the State Board of
	Dental Examiners under Section 254.013, Occupations Code, subject
	to the limitations imposed by that section; [and]
	(34) [(33)]  an Alamo complex ranger commissioned by
	the General Land Office under Section 31.0515, Natural Resources
	Code, subject to the limitations imposed by that section; and
	(35)  an officer commissioned by the Texas Education
	Agency as an officer under Section 37.1031, Education Code
	[investigator commissioned by the Texas Juvenile Justice
	Department as an officer under Section 221.011, Human Resources
	Code].
	SECTION 2.  Section 7.021, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (d) to read as follows:
	(d)  The agency may commission peace officers as provided by
	Section 37.1031 to enforce Subchapter D, Chapter 37.
	SECTION 3.  Section 37.0814, Education Code, is amended by
	amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as
	follows:
	(d)  The board of trustees of a school district that claims a
	good cause exception under Subsection (c) must develop an
	alternative standard with which the district is able to comply,
	which may include providing a person to act as a security officer
	who is:
	(1)  a school marshal; or
	(2)  a school district employee or a person with whom
	the district contracts who:
	(A)  either:
	(i)  has completed school safety training
	provided by a qualified handgun instructor certified in school
	safety under Section 411.1901, Government Code; or
	(ii)  not later than the 180th day after the
	date on which the employee or person begins duties as a security
	officer, completes training deemed appropriate by the district, in
	consultation with the district's police department, or, if the
	district does not have a police department, a local law enforcement
	agency, in:
	(a)  active shooter response, which
	must be provided by an instructor certified by the Advanced Law
	Enforcement Rapid Response Training Center at Texas State
	University--San Marcos;
	(b)  school safety and emergency
	management;
	(c)  crisis intervention;
	(d)  incident command;
	(e)  first aid administration;
	(f)  mental health; and
	(g)  qualifications relating to the
	carrying or use of a firearm; and
	(B)  carries a handgun on school premises in
	accordance with written regulations or written authorization of the
	district under Section 46.03(a)(1)(A), Penal Code.
	(d-1)  A good cause exception claimed by the board of
	trustees of a school district under Subsection (c) expires on the
	first anniversary of the date the exception is claimed. On the
	expiration of the exception, the board must reevaluate whether the
	board is able to comply with this section and, if not, renew:
	(1)  the claim for an exception under Subsection (c);
	and
	(2)  the alternative standard developed under
	Subsection (d).
	SECTION 4.  Subchapter D, Chapter 37, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 37.1031 to read as follows:
	Sec. 37.1031.  AGENCY PEACE OFFICERS. (a)  The agency may
	commission as a peace officer to enforce this subchapter an
	employee who has been certified as qualified to be a peace officer
	by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
	(b)  An employee commissioned as a peace officer under this
	section has the powers, privileges, and immunities of a peace
	officer while carrying out duties as a peace officer under this
	subchapter.
	SECTION 5.  Section 37.108, Education Code, is amended by
	amending Subsections (a), (c), and (f) and adding Subsection (a-1)
	to read as follows:
	(a)  Each school district or public junior college district
	shall adopt and implement a multihazard emergency operations plan
	for use in the district's facilities.  The plan must address
	prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery as
	defined by the Texas School Safety Center in conjunction with the
	governor's office of homeland security, the commissioner of
	education, and the commissioner of higher education.  The plan must
	provide for:
	(1)  training in responding to an emergency for
	district employees, including school district substitute teachers;
	(2)  measures to ensure district employees, including
	school district substitute teachers, have classroom access to a
	telephone, including a cellular telephone, or another electronic
	communication device allowing for immediate contact with district
	emergency services or emergency services agencies, law enforcement
	agencies, health departments, and fire departments;
	(3)  measures to ensure district communications
	technology and infrastructure are adequate to allow for
	communication during an emergency;
	(4)  if the plan applies to a school district,
	mandatory school drills and exercises, including drills required
	under Section 37.114, to prepare district students and employees
	for responding to an emergency;
	(5)  measures to ensure coordination with the
	Department of State Health Services and local emergency management
	agencies, law enforcement, health departments, and fire
	departments in the event of an emergency;
	(6)  the implementation of a safety and security audit
	as required by Subsection (b); and
	(7)  any other requirements established by the Texas
	School Safety Center in consultation with the agency and the Texas
	Higher Education Coordinating Board.
	(a-1)  The Texas School Safety Center shall provide to the
	superintendent of each school district and to the president of each
	public junior college district notice of the requirements
	established under Subsection (a)(7) applicable to the district [and
	relevant local law enforcement agencies].
	(c)  A school district or public junior college district
	shall report the results of the safety and security audit conducted
	under Subsection (b) to the district's board of trustees and, in the
	manner required by the Texas School Safety Center, to the Texas
	School Safety Center.  The district must maintain a copy of the
	[The] report [provided to the Texas School Safety Center under this
	subsection must be] signed by:
	(1)  for a school district, the district's board of
	trustees and superintendent; or
	(2)  for a public junior college district, the
	president of the junior college district.
	(f)  A school district shall include in its multihazard
	emergency operations plan:
	(1)  a chain of command that designates the individual
	responsible for making final decisions during a disaster or
	emergency situation and identifies other individuals responsible
	for making those decisions if the designated person is unavailable;
	(2)  provisions that address physical and
	psychological safety for responding to a natural disaster, active
	shooter, and any other dangerous scenario identified for purposes
	of this section by the agency or the Texas School Safety Center;
	(3)  provisions for ensuring the safety of students in
	portable buildings;
	(4)  provisions for ensuring that students and district
	personnel with disabilities are provided equal access to safety
	during a disaster or emergency situation;
	(5)  provisions for providing immediate notification
	to parents, guardians, and other persons standing in parental
	relation in circumstances involving a significant threat to the
	health or safety of students, including identification of the
	individual with responsibility for overseeing the notification;
	(6)  provisions for supporting the psychological
	safety of students, district personnel, and the community during
	the response and recovery phase following a disaster or emergency
	situation that:
	(A)  are aligned with best practice-based
	programs and research-based practices recommended under Section
	38.351;
	(B)  include strategies for ensuring any required
	professional development training for suicide prevention and
	grief-informed and trauma-informed care is provided to appropriate
	school personnel;
	(C)  include training on integrating
	psychological safety and suicide prevention strategies into the
	district's plan, such as psychological first aid for schools
	training, from an approved list of recommended training established
	by the commissioner and Texas School Safety Center for:
	(i)  members of the district's school safety
	and security committee under Section 37.109;
	(ii)  district school counselors and mental
	health professionals; and
	(iii)  educators and other district
	personnel as determined by the district;
	(D)  include strategies and procedures for
	integrating and supporting physical and psychological safety that
	align with the provisions described by Subdivision (2); and
	(E)  implement trauma-informed policies;
	(7)  a policy for providing a substitute teacher access
	to school campus buildings and materials necessary for the
	substitute teacher to carry out the duties of a district employee
	during an emergency or a mandatory emergency drill;
	(8)  provisions, as determined by the agency, for
	ensuring the safety of students, staff, and spectators during
	extracurricular activities sponsored or sanctioned by the
	district;
	(9)  the name of each individual on the district's
	school safety and security committee established under Section
	37.109 and the date of each committee meeting during the preceding
	year; and
	(10) [(9)]  certification that the district is in
	compliance with Section 37.117, as added by Chapter 896 (H.B. 3),
	Acts of the 88th Legislature, Regular Session, 2023.
	SECTION 6.  Subchapter D, Chapter 37, Education Code, is
	amended by adding Section 37.1088 to read as follows:
	Sec. 37.1088.  AGENCY REPORT ON SCHOOL SAFETY. (a)  Not
	later than December 31 of each year, the agency shall prepare and
	submit to the governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the
	house of representatives, and each standing committee of each house
	of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over primary and
	secondary education, finance, and appropriations a report that
	includes the deidentified results of the vulnerability assessments
	and intruder detection audits conducted under Sections 37.1083 and
	37.1084 during the preceding year.
	(b)  The report under Subsection (a) must include
	recommendations and possible corrective actions for specific
	deficiencies in campus security identified at multiple school
	districts and open-enrollment charter schools.
	SECTION 7.  Section 37.115, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (d-1) and amending Subsection (h) to read as
	follows:
	(d-1)  Notwithstanding Subsection (d), if a student in a
	special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, is the
	subject of a threat assessment under Subsection (f), the team
	conducting the threat assessment must include at least one of the
	following persons who has specific knowledge of the student's
	disability and the disability's manifestations:
	(1)  a special education teacher who provides
	instruction to the student;
	(2)  a behavior analyst licensed under Chapter 506,
	Occupations Code;
	(3)  a clinical or master social worker licensed under
	Chapter 505, Occupations Code; or
	(4)  a specialist in school psychology licensed under
	Chapter 501, Occupations Code.
	(h)  On a determination that a student or other individual
	poses a serious risk of violence to self or others, a team shall
	immediately report the team's determination to the superintendent
	and, if[.  If] the individual is a student, [the superintendent
	shall] immediately attempt to inform the parent or person standing
	in parental relation to the student.  The requirements of this
	subsection do not prevent an employee of the school from acting
	immediately to prevent an imminent threat or respond to an
	emergency.
	SECTION 8.  Sections 37.203(a) and (b), Education Code, are
	amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The center is advised by a board of directors composed
	of:
	(1)  the attorney general, or the attorney general's
	designee;
	(2)  the commissioner, or the commissioner's designee;
	(3)  the executive director of the Texas Juvenile
	Justice Department, or the executive director's designee;
	(4)  the commissioner of the Department of State Health
	Services, or the commissioner's designee;
	(5)  the commissioner of higher education, or the
	commissioner's designee; and
	(6)  the following members appointed by the governor
	with the advice and consent of the senate:
	(A)  a juvenile court judge;
	(B)  a member of a school district's board of
	trustees;
	(C)  an administrator of a public primary school;
	(D)  an administrator of a public secondary
	school;
	(E)  a member of the state parent-teacher
	association;
	(F)  a teacher from a public primary or secondary
	school;
	(G)  a public school superintendent who is a
	member of the Texas Association of School Administrators;
	(H)  a school district police officer or a peace
	officer whose primary duty consists of working in a public school;
	(I)  a professional architect who is registered in
	this state and a member of the Texas Society of Architects;
	(J)  an administrator of a public junior college;
	and
	(K) [(J)]  three members of the public.
	(b)  Members of the board appointed under Subsection (a)(6)
	serve staggered two-year terms, with the terms of the members
	described by Subsections (a)(6)(A)-(F) expiring on February 1 of
	each odd-numbered year and the terms of the members described by
	Subsections (a)(6)(G)-(K) [(J)] expiring on February 1 of each
	even-numbered year.  A member may serve more than one term.
	SECTION 9.  Section 37.222(b), Education Code, is amended to
	read as follows:
	(b)  At least three times each school year, each [Each]
	school district and open-enrollment charter school shall provide
	the information and other resources described under Subsection (a)
	to the parent or guardian of each student enrolled in the district
	or school.
	SECTION 10.  Section 37.353, Education Code, is amended by
	adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
	(c)  A good cause exception claimed by a school district
	under Subsection (a) expires on the fifth anniversary of the date on
	which the exception is claimed.  On the expiration of the exception,
	the district must reevaluate whether the district is able to comply
	with each school facility standard related to safety and security,
	and if not, renew:
	(1)  the claim for an exception under Subsection (a);
	and
	(2)  the alternative performance standard developed
	under Subsection (b).
	SECTION 11.  Section 48.115(b), Education Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	(b)  Funds allocated under this section must be used to
	improve school safety and security, including costs associated
	with:
	(1)  securing school facilities in accordance with the
	requirements of Section 37.351, including:
	(A)  improvements to school infrastructure;
	(B)  the use or installation of perimeter security
	fencing conducive to a public school learning environment or
	physical barriers, which may not include razor wire;
	(C)  interior and exterior door and window safety
	and security upgrades, including:
	(i)  exterior door numbering;
	(ii)  primary and secondary locking systems;
	and
	(iii) security film that provides resistance
	to a forced entry; and
	(D)  the purchase and maintenance of:
	(i)  security cameras and, if the district
	has already installed security cameras, other security equipment,
	including video surveillance as provided by Section 29.022; and
	(ii)  technology, including communications
	systems or devices, such as silent panic alert devices, two-way
	radios, or wireless Internet booster equipment, that facilitates
	communication and information sharing between students, school
	personnel, and first responders in an emergency;
	(2)  providing security for the district, including:
	(A)  employing school district peace officers,
	private security officers, and school marshals; and
	(B)  collaborating with local law enforcement
	agencies, such as entering into a memorandum of understanding for
	the assignment of school resource officers to schools in the
	district;
	(3)  school safety and security measures, including:
	(A)  active shooter and emergency response
	training;
	(B)  prevention and treatment programs relating
	to addressing adverse childhood experiences; and
	(C)  the prevention, identification, and
	management of emergencies and threats, using evidence-based,
	effective prevention practices and including:
	(i)  providing licensed counselors, social
	workers, behavioral interventionists, chaplains, and individuals
	trained in restorative discipline and [restorative] justice or
	other discipline management practices;
	(ii)  providing mental health personnel and
	support, including chaplains;
	(iii)  providing behavioral health
	services, including services provided by chaplains;
	(iv)  establishing threat reporting
	systems; and
	(v)  developing and implementing programs
	focused on restorative justice practices, culturally relevant
	instruction, and providing mental health support, including
	support provided by chaplains;
	(4)  providing programs related to suicide prevention,
	intervention, and postvention, including programs provided by
	chaplains; and
	(5)  employing a school safety director and other
	personnel to manage and monitor school safety initiatives and the
	implementation of school safety requirements for the district.
	SECTION 12.  Sections 85.024(a) and (b), Local Government
	Code, are amended to read as follows:
	(a)  The sheriff of a county with a total population of less
	than 350,000 in which a school district or open-enrollment charter
	[public] school is located shall call and conduct a meeting at least
	twice each calendar year, not less than three months apart,
	[semiannual meetings] to discuss:
	(1)  school safety;
	(2)  coordinated law enforcement response to school
	violence incidents;
	(3)  law enforcement agency capabilities;
	(4)  available resources;
	(5)  emergency radio interoperability;
	(6)  chain of command planning; and
	(7)  other related subjects proposed by a person in
	attendance at the meeting.
	(b)  The sheriff of a county to which this section applies in
	which more than one school district or open-enrollment charter
	[public] school is located may discuss school safety policies for
	more than [is only required to hold] one school district or
	open-enrollment charter school in a [semiannual] meeting described
	by Subsection (a).  This subsection does not require districts or
	schools [public schools] located within the same county to adopt
	the same school safety policies.
	SECTION 13.  Section 37.2161, Education Code, is repealed.
	SECTION 14.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
	school year.
	SECTION 15.  Not later than February 1, 2026, the governor
	shall appoint the new member to the board of directors of the Texas
	School Safety Center as required by Section 37.203(a)(6)(J),
	Education Code, as amended by this Act.
	SECTION 16.  To the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails
	over another Act of the 89th Legislature, Regular Session, 2025,
	relating to nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted
	codes.
	SECTION 17.  This Act takes effect immediately if it
	receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
	house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
	If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
	effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
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