HB 1141
AN ACT relating to the suspension of certain public school students and to
89th Regular Session
Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended
Awaiting Committee Assignment
Bill filed, pending referral to House committee
Committee
Not yet assigned
Fiscal Note
Not available
What This Bill Does
Modifies rules for suspending homeless students in Texas public schools and changes requirements for resource campuses. It prohibits out-of-school suspensions for homeless students except in cases of serious offenses involving weapons, violence, or drugs, and requires campus behavior coordinators to find alternative disciplinary approaches. The bill also updates resource campus designation criteria, removing a previous requirement for a positive behavior program and adding new staffing and operational standards.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the suspension of certain public school students and to the repeal of the positive behavior program for public schools. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 29.934(d), Education Code, is amended to (d) To be designated as a resource campus, the campus must: (1) implement a targeted improvement plan as described by Chapter 39A and establish a school community partnership team; (2) adopt an accelerated campus excellence turnaround plan as provided by Section 39A.105(b) except that a classroom teacher who satisfies the requirements for demonstrated instructional effectiveness under Section 39A.105(b)(3) must also hold a current designation assigned under Section 21.3521; (3) be in a school district that has adopted an approved local optional teacher designation system under Section (4) satisfy certain staff criteria by: (A) requiring a principal or teacher employed at the campus before the designation to apply for a position to (B) employing only teachers who have at least three years of teaching experience; (C) employing at least one school counselor for (D) employing at least one appropriately licensed professional to assist with the social and emotional needs of students and staff, who must be a: (i) family and community liaison; (iii) specialist in school psychology; or (5) [implement a positive behavior program as provided [(6)] implement a family engagement plan as described (6) [(7)] develop and implement a plan to use high quality instructional materials; (7) [(8)] if the campus is an elementary campus, operate the campus for a school year that qualifies for funding (8) [(9)] annually submit to the commissioner data and information required by the commissioner to assess fidelity of SECTION 2. Section 37.005, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsections (d-1) and (f) to (d) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may not place a student who is homeless in out-of-school suspension unless the student engages in the following conduct [described by Subsections (c)(1)-(3)] while on school property or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off of school (1) conduct that contains the elements of an offense related to weapons under Section 46.02 or 46.05, Penal Code; (2) conduct that contains the elements of a violent offense under Section 22.01, 22.011, 22.02, or 22.021, Penal Code; (3) selling, giving, or delivering to another person or possessing, using, or being under the influence of any amount of: (A) marihuana or a controlled substance, as defined by Chapter 481, Health and Safety Code, or by 21 U.S.C. (B) a dangerous drug, as defined by Chapter 483, (C) an alcoholic beverage, as defined by Section (d-1) The campus behavior coordinator may coordinate with the school district's homeless education liaison to identify appropriate alternatives to out-of-school suspension for a student who is homeless. [In this subsection, "student who is homeless" has the meaning assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under 42 U.S.C. Section 11434a.] (f) In this section, "student who is homeless" has the meaning assigned to the term "homeless children and youths" under SECTION 3. The following provisions of the Education Code SECTION 4. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 SECTION 5. 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.
Bill Sponsors
Legislators who authored or co-sponsored this bill.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the suspension of certain public school students and to
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