By: Zwiener H.B. No. 72
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the instruction about bullying and harassment in the
  required health curriculum for public school students.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 28.002(s), Education Code, is amended to
  read as follows:
         (s)  In this subsection, "bullying" has the meaning assigned
  by Section 37.0832 and "harassment" has the meaning assigned by
  Section 37.001. In addition to any other essential knowledge and
  skills the State Board of Education adopts for the health
  curriculum under Subsection (a)(2)(B), the board shall adopt for
  the health curriculum, in consultation with the Texas School Safety
  Center, essential knowledge and skills that include evidence-based
  practices that will effectively:
               (1)  address awareness, prevention, identification,
  self-defense in response to, and resolution of and intervention in
  bullying and harassment; and
               (2)  teach respect for another person's bodily autonomy
  and confidence in protecting one's own bodily autonomy.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
  school year.
         SECTION 3.  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, 2023.