bill adding de-escalation to teacher training

The text as introduced · 999 words

89R5376 PRL-D

By: González of El Paso
H.B. No. 4193

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to measures for ensuring safety and security in public

schools, including certain training for school district personnel

and parents of certain students.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 21.044(a-1), Education Code, is amended

to read as follows:

(a-1) Any training requirements for a certificate specified

under Subsection (a) must require that the person demonstrate:

(1) basic knowledge of:

(A) each disability category under the

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400

et seq.) and how each category can affect student learning and

development; and

(B) conditions that may be considered a

disability under Section 504, Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C.

Section 794), and how a condition covered by that section can affect

student learning and development;

(2) competence in the use of proactive instructional

planning techniques that:

(A) provide flexibility in the ways:

(i) information is presented;

(ii) students respond or demonstrate

knowledge and skills; and

(iii) students are engaged;

(B) reduce barriers in instruction;

(C) provide appropriate accommodations,

supports, and challenges; and

(D) maintain high achievement expectations for

all students, including students with disabilities and students of

limited English proficiency;

(3) competence in the use of evidence-based inclusive

instructional practices, including:

(A) general and special education collaborative

and co-teaching models and approaches;

(B) multitiered systems of support, including

response to intervention strategies, classroom and school level

data-based collaborative structures, and evidence-based strategies

for intervention and progress monitoring systems in academic areas;

(C) classroom management techniques using

evidence-based behavioral intervention strategies and supports and

de-escalation techniques ; and

(D) appropriate adaptation strategies, including

accommodations, modifications, and instruction in the use of

assistive technology for instruction; and

(4) thorough understanding of and competence in the

use of open education resource instructional materials included on

the list of approved instructional materials maintained by the

State Board of Education under Section 31.022 in each subject area

and grade level covered by the person's certificate.

SECTION 2. Section 29.041(3), Education Code, is amended to

read as follows:

(3) "Supplemental special education services" means

an additive service that provides an educational benefit to a

student receiving special education services under Subchapter A,

including:

(A) occupational therapy, physical therapy, and

speech therapy; [ and ]

(B) private tutoring and other supplemental

private instruction or programs ; and

(C) crisis intervention training for the

student's parent .

SECTION 3. Section 37.0021, Education Code, is amended by

adding Subsections (k) and (l) to read as follows:

(k) Subject to Subsection (l), the commissioner by rule

shall adopt procedures relating to training for school district

personnel in de-escalation techniques. The procedures must

include:

(1) standards for determining:

(A) which personnel, including support staff and

law enforcement, should receive the training; and

(B) the amount of training the personnel should

receive, with priority for a higher degree of training that

includes physical interventions given to personnel who are exposed

to the greatest risk of student-involved crisis; and

(2) recommendations regarding the minimum frequency

of retraining necessary, which may be:

(A) an annual course; or

(B) as needed, based on the students served by

the personnel.

(l) Notwithstanding any other law, any de-escalation

technique training requirement adopted under Subsection (k) is not

an additional training requirement and may be combined with or

substituted, provided the de-escalation training addresses a

majority of the content covered in the substituted training, for

other related trainings, including:

(1) trauma-informed care training required under

Section 38.036(c); and

(2) training on strategies for establishing and

maintaining positive relationships among students, including

conflict resolution, required as part of a school district's staff

development under Section 21.451(d).

SECTION 4. Section 37.115(c), Education Code, as amended by

Chapters 896 (H.B. 3) and 948 (S.B. 1720), Acts of the 88th

Legislature, Regular Session, 2023, is reenacted and amended to

read as follows:

(c) The board of trustees of each school district shall

establish a threat assessment and safe and supportive school team

to serve at each campus of the district and shall adopt policies and

procedures for the teams. The team is responsible for developing

and implementing the safe and supportive school program under

Subsection (b) at the district campus served by the team. The

policies and procedures adopted under this section must:

(1) be consistent with the model policies and

procedures developed by the Texas School Safety Center;

(2) require each team to complete training provided by

the Texas School Safety Center or a regional education service

center regarding evidence-based threat assessment programs;

(3) require each team established under this section

to report the information required under Subsection (k) regarding

the team's activities to the agency; [ and ]

(4) provide for:

(A) a district employee who reports a potential

threat to a team to elect for the employee's identity to be

confidential and not subject to disclosure under Chapter 552,

Government Code, except as necessary for the team, the district, or

law enforcement to investigate the potential threat; and

(B) the district to maintain a record of the

identity of a district employee who elects for the employee's

identity to be confidential under Paragraph (A) ;

(5) [ (4) ] require each district campus to establish a

clear procedure for a student to report concerning behavior

exhibited by another student for assessment by the team or other

appropriate school employee ; and

(6) encourage each team established under this section

to form an incident reduction committee to develop and implement

preventative and proactive incident reduction measures .

SECTION 5. 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 6. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act, the commissioner of education shall adopt the rules

required by Section 37.0021(k), Education Code, as added by this

Act.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.