Howard Bill Copies Police Trauma Notices To A Regional Center

The text as introduced · 992 words

89R9273 BCH-D

By: Howard
H.B. No. 4267

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the submission by law enforcement agencies to certain

public school personnel of a handle with care notice concerning a

traumatic event experienced by a public school student and to

certain required training regarding those notices.

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

SECTION 1. It is the intent of the legislature that handle

with care notices submitted and received under Article 2A.067, Code

of Criminal Procedure, as added by this Act, lead to greater

understanding of and noninterventional care for students in public

schools in this state who have experienced a traumatic event, but do

not result in active interference with or the singling out of the

student.

SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 2A, Code of Criminal

Procedure, is amended by adding Article 2A.067 to read as follows:

Art. 2A.067. HANDLE WITH CARE NOTICE REGARDING CERTAIN

PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS. (a) This article applies in any situation

in which a law enforcement agency determines that a public school

student witnessed or otherwise experienced a traumatic event. For

purposes of this article, a "traumatic event" includes the

following events:

(1) the arrest of an individual who resides with a

student;

(2) the execution of a search warrant at a student's

residence;

(3) an overdose of alcohol or of a controlled

substance by an individual who resides with a student;

(4) suicide or attempted suicide committed by an

individual who resides with a student;

(5) an incident involving family violence, as defined

by Section 71.004, Family Code;

(6) an incident of assault or sexual assault;

(7) a severe motor vehicle accident that causes bodily

injury or death;

(8) a mass shooting;

(9) a student's forced displacement from the student's

residence;

(10) the death of an individual who resides with the

student or another incident that could be expected to cause the

student to be affected by grief;

(11) a fire that causes severe property damage or

bodily injury or death; or

(12) any other event that a peace officer responding

to or taking a report regarding the event has reason to believe will

negatively impact a student's ability to succeed in school.

(b) A law enforcement agency that determines, in the course

of providing law enforcement services, that an individual who is

enrolled as a student in a public primary or secondary school has

experienced a traumatic event may submit a handle with care notice

to the superintendent or other designated school employee at the

school at which the student is enrolled.

(c) A handle with care notice must include, if known:

(1) the student's name, age, and grade level; and

(2) the school at which the student is enrolled.

(d) A law enforcement agency shall submit handle with care

notices using an electronic system that automatically sends a copy

of the notice to the regional education service center serving the

school at which the student who is the subject of the notice is

enrolled.

(e) A superintendent or other designated school employee

who receives a handle with care notice shall immediately provide a

copy of the handle with care notice to all instructional and support

personnel who have responsibility for supervision of the student

who is the subject of the notice.

(f) Information contained in a handle with care notice

authorized under this article is confidential and exempt from

disclosure except as provided by this article or other applicable

state and federal law. Except as provided by Subsection (e), all

school personnel who receive a copy of the handle with care notice

shall keep that information confidential.

(g) A law enforcement agency must ensure that law

enforcement officers and other agency employees receive

appropriate training regarding a handle with care notice, including

by requiring appropriate agency personnel to attend the training

established and maintained under Section 1701.2635, Occupations

Code.

SECTION 3. Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 38.048 to read as follows:

Sec. 38.048. HANDLE WITH CARE NOTICE TRAINING COURSE. (a)

The agency shall establish and maintain a one-hour training course

regarding handle with care notices for school district or

open-enrollment charter school employees who have responsibility

for the supervision of students.

(b) The training course must provide information on the

implementation of procedures relating to handle with care notices

authorized under Article 2A.067, Code of Criminal Procedure,

including appropriate methods of monitoring and responding to a

student who is the subject of a handle with care notice.

(c) Each school district and open-enrollment charter school

shall ensure that appropriate personnel complete the training

course established under this section.

(d) The State Board for Educator Certification shall

propose rules allowing an educator to receive credit toward the

educator's continuing education requirements for completion of a

course established under this section.

SECTION 4. Subchapter F, Chapter 1701, Occupations Code, is

amended by adding Section 1701.2635 to read as follows:

Sec. 1701.2635. HANDLE WITH CARE NOTICE TRAINING PROGRAM.

The commission shall establish and maintain a one-time training

program for peace officers and other employees of law enforcement

agencies that provides information on the implementation of

procedures relating to handle with care notices authorized under

Article 2A.067, Code of Criminal Procedure.

SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date

of this Act:

(1) the Texas Education Agency shall develop the

handle with care notice training course as required by Section

38.048, Education Code, as added by this Act;

(2) the State Board for Educator Certification shall

propose rules allowing an educator to receive credit toward the

educator's continuing education requirements for completion of the

handle with care notice training course as required by Section

38.048, Education Code, as added by this Act; and

(3) the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shall

establish the handle with care notice training program as required

by Section 1701.2635, Occupations Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.