Bill Text: TX HB2885 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to requiring a school district to report data regarding restraints administered to, sanctions imposed on, complaints filed against, citations issued to, and arrests made of students.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-05-06 - Committee report sent to Calendars [HB2885 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB2885-Introduced.html
 
 
  By: Giddings H.B. No. 2885
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring a school district to report data regarding
  restraints administered to, sanctions imposed on, complaints filed
  against, citations issued to, and arrests made of students.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter C, Chapter 37, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 37.0815 to read as follows:
         Sec. 37.0815.  REPORT TO AGENCY ON RESTRAINTS, SANCTIONS,
  COMPLAINTS, CITATIONS, AND ARRESTS. (a) In this section:
               (1)  "Citation" means a ticket issued to a student for a
  Class C misdemeanor by a school district peace officer or other
  peace officer acting under a memorandum of understanding described
  by Subsection (g).
               (2)  "OC spray" means any aerosol-propelled
  debilitation device that is composed of a lachrymatory chemical
  compound that irritates the eyes to cause tears, pain, or temporary
  blindness.  The term includes pepper spray, capsicum spray, OC gas,
  and oleoresin capsicum.
               (3)  "Restraint" means the use of physical force or a
  mechanical device to significantly restrict the free movement of
  all or a portion of a student's body. The term includes the use of:
                     (A)  a baton or a similar club;
                     (B)  OC spray; and
                     (C)  a Taser.
               (4)  "Taser" means a device manufactured, sold, or
  distributed by Taser International, Incorporated, that is
  intended, designed, made, or adapted to incapacitate a person by
  inflicting an electrical charge through the emission of a
  projectile or conductive stream. The term, for purposes of this
  section, includes a similar device manufactured, sold, or
  distributed by another person.
         (b)  Not later than the 60th day after the last day of classes
  for the academic year, the superintendent of a school district
  shall electronically submit to the agency a report that contains
  incident-based data describing the total number of the following
  incidents occurring during the preceding academic year, organized
  by campus:
               (1)  restraints administered to a student;
               (2)  sanctions imposed on a student under a system of
  graduated sanctions developed under Section 37.144;
               (3)  complaints filed against a student under Section
  37.145;
               (4)  citations issued to a student; and
               (5)  arrests made of a student.
         (c)  The incident-based data submitted under this section
  must include, as applicable, information identifying:
               (1)  the age of the student;
               (2)  the gender of the student;
               (3)  the race or ethnicity of the student;
               (4)  whether the student is eligible for special
  education services under Section 29.003;
               (5)  whether the student is a student of limited
  English proficiency, as defined by Section 29.052;
               (6)  the nature of the offense;
               (7)  whether the offense occurred during regular school
  hours;
               (8)  whether the offense occurred on school property or
  off school property while the student was attending a
  school-sponsored or school-related activity;
               (9)  the type of restraint administered to the student;
               (10)  the type of sanction imposed on the student;
               (11)  the offense for which a complaint was filed
  against the student or for which the student was issued a citation
  or was arrested; and
               (12)  the campus at which the student is enrolled.
         (d)  The data collected for a report required under this
  section does not constitute prima facie evidence of racial
  profiling.
         (e)  A report required under this section may not include
  information that identifies the peace officer who issued a
  citation. The identity of the peace officer is confidential and not
  subject to disclosure under Chapter 552, Government Code.
         (f)  A report required under this section may not include
  personally identifiable student information and must comply with
  the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C.
  Section 1232g).
         (g)  A school district that enters into a memorandum of
  understanding with a local law enforcement agency for the provision
  of a regular police presence on campus shall designate in the
  memorandum of understanding which entity will be responsible for
  collecting the data described by Subsection (b).
         (h)  The agency shall collect the reports required under this
  section, compile the data, and make the data available to the
  public.
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2015-2016
  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, 2015.
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