HB 3312
AN ACT relating to the preservation and release of video surveillance
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
Extends the required retention period for video surveillance recordings in special education settings from 3 to 12 months, with a critical provision that recordings related to any reported incident must be preserved until the incident is fully resolved. The bill allows employees involved in an alleged incident, parents of students involved, certain state personnel, law enforcement, school administrators, and attorneys to request and view these recordings, ensuring transparency and accountability in special education environments. The legislation aims to protect the rights of students and staff by maintaining comprehensive video evidence and facilitating appropriate access for investigations and legal purposes.
Subject Areas
Bill Text
relating to the preservation and release of video surveillance recordings of special education settings. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 29.022, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsections (e) and (i) and adding Subsections (e-2) and (e) Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (e-1) and (e-2), a school district or open-enrollment charter school shall retain video recorded from a video camera placed under this section for at least 12 [three] months after the date the video was (e-2) A school district or open-enrollment charter school shall retain all available video recordings of an employee who is involved in an alleged incident that has been reported to the district or school, regardless of whether the recording documents the incident, until the incident has been resolved, including the (i) A video recording of a student made according to this section is confidential and may not be released or viewed except as provided by this subsection or Subsection (i-1), (i-2), or (j). A school district or open-enrollment charter school shall release a (1) an employee who is involved in an alleged incident that is documented by the recording and has been reported to the district or school, on request of the employee; (2) a parent of a student who is involved in an alleged incident that is documented by the recording and has been reported to the district or school, on request of the parent; (3) appropriate Department of Family and Protective Services personnel as part of an investigation under Section (4) a peace officer, a school nurse, a district or school administrator trained in de-escalation and restraint techniques as provided by commissioner rule, or a human resources staff member designated by the board of trustees of the school district or the governing body of the open-enrollment charter school in response to a report of an alleged incident or an investigation of district or school personnel or a report of alleged abuse committed by a student; or (5) appropriate agency or State Board for Educator Certification personnel or agents as part of an investigation. (i-2) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may not limit the number of times an employee or a parent of a student who is involved in an alleged incident may view a recording that documents the incident. The district or school must release a recording that documents an alleged incident for viewing by the attorney of an employee or a parent of a student who is involved in the incident not later than one week after receiving a request from the attorney to view the recording. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Bill History
Bill filed: AN ACT relating to the preservation and release of video surveillance
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