Bill Text: TX SB2342 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to bullying prevention in public schools, including the establishment of a bullying prevention program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-23 - Referred to Education [SB2342 Detail]
Download: Texas-2023-SB2342-Introduced.html
By: Menéndez | S.B. No. 2342 | |
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relating to bullying prevention in public schools, including the | ||
establishment of a bullying prevention program. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 37, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Sections 37.0833 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 37.0833. BULLYING PREVENTION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In | ||
this section, "bullying" has the meaning assigned by Section | ||
37.0832. | ||
(b) The commissioner shall establish and administer a | ||
bullying prevention pilot program to help reduce incidents of | ||
bullying in public schools. | ||
(c) In establishing the bullying prevention program under | ||
Subsection (b), the commissioner may collaborate with: | ||
(1) qualified experts and researchers in the areas of | ||
child and youth wellbeing, mental health, and education; and | ||
(2) other appropriate stakeholders. | ||
(d) Using funds appropriated for that purpose, the | ||
commissioner shall establish and administer a grant program under | ||
which a school district that demonstrates a substantial need for | ||
bullying prevention may receive a grant to implement the bullying | ||
prevention pilot program at no more than three campuses within the | ||
district. | ||
(e) The commissioner shall establish application criteria | ||
for receipt of a grant under this section. | ||
(f) The commissioner shall establish allowable uses of | ||
grant funds under this section. | ||
(g) The agency shall use funds allocated for the grant | ||
program under this section to provide technical assistance to grant | ||
recipients under this section, including through regional | ||
education service centers. | ||
(h) The commissioner shall adopt rules to implement this | ||
section. | ||
(i) The commissioner may use funds otherwise available, | ||
including funds provided through grants or donations sought and | ||
accepted by the agency, to implement this section. If funds are not | ||
appropriated to implement this section, the commissioner is not | ||
required to implement the provisions of this section. | ||
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |