HB 1368

AN ACT relating to a notification requirement if a public school does not

House Bill Jones, Venton | Buckley | Allen | Reynolds | Guerra
Filed

Filed

Bill introduced by legislator

Committee

Hearing

Passed Cmte

Calendar

Passed

Sent

Enrolled

Governor

Signed

89th Regular Session

Jan 14, 2025 - Jun 2, 2025 • Session ended

Awaiting Committee Assignment

Bill filed, pending referral to House committee

← Back to Bills

Committee

Not yet assigned

Fiscal Note

Not available

What This Bill Does

This Texas bill requires public schools to notify parents in writing if they lack a full-time nurse, school counselor, or librarian for more than 30 consecutive instructional days. Schools must provide bilingual notices to parents, which can be posted on the school's website, detailing the absence of these critical staff positions. The notification requirement applies to schools with sufficient student enrollment, aiming to increase transparency about staffing gaps that could impact student support and resources.

Subject Areas

Bill Text

relating to a notification requirement if a public school does not
have a nurse, school counselor, or librarian assigned to the school
during all instructional hours.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 25, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 25.096 to read as follows:
Sec. 25.096.  PARENTAL NOTIFICATION CONCERNING NURSES,
SCHOOL COUNSELORS, AND LIBRARIANS.  (a)  In this section:
(1)  "Librarian" means a person certified as a
librarian under Subchapter B, Chapter 21.
(2)  "Nurse" means a person licensed under Chapter 301,
(3)  "School counselor" means a person certified as a
school counselor under Subchapter B, Chapter 21.
(b)  Except as otherwise provided by Subsection (i), a public
school, including an open-enrollment charter school, that does not
have a full-time nurse, school counselor, or librarian or the
equivalent of a full-time nurse, school counselor, or librarian
assigned to be present at the school for more than 30 consecutive
instructional days during the same school year shall provide
written notice of the absence to the parent of or other person
standing in parental relation to each student enrolled in the
(c)  A school has the equivalent of a full-time nurse under
Subsection (b) if the school has two or more nurses assigned to the
school and all regular student instructional hours at the campus
during the regular school day are covered by the assignment of at
(d)  A school has the equivalent of a full-time school
counselor under Subsection (b) if the school has two or more school
counselors assigned to the school and all regular student
instructional hours at the campus during the regular school day are
covered by the assignment of at least one school counselor.
(e)  A school has the equivalent of a full-time librarian
under Subsection (b) if the school has two or more librarians
assigned to the school and all regular student instructional hours
at the campus during the regular school day are covered by the
assignment of at least one librarian.
(f)  The principal of the school shall provide the notice
required by Subsection (b) not later than the 30th instructional
day after the first day the school does not have a full-time nurse,
school counselor, or librarian assigned to be present at the
(1)  make a good faith effort to ensure that the notice
required by this section is provided in a bilingual form to any
parent or other person standing in parental relation whose primary
(2)  retain a copy of any notice provided under this
(h)  A school may satisfy the notice requirement under
Subsection (f) by posting the notice on the school's Internet
website.  Notice posted under this subsection must be accessible
from the home page of the Internet website by use of not more than
(i)  This section does not apply to a school district or
open-enrollment charter school with a student enrollment of less
SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
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, 2025.

Bill History

filed

Bill filed: AN ACT relating to a notification requirement if a public school does not