Bill Text: TX HB687 | 2025-2026 | 89th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the establishment of a bullying prevention pilot program for public schools.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-11-12 - Filed [HB687 Detail]
Download: Texas-2025-HB687-Introduced.html
| 89R2802 ANG-F | ||
| By: Goodwin | H.B. No. 687 | |
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| relating to the establishment of a bullying prevention pilot | ||
| program for public schools. | ||
| BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
| SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 37, Education Code, is | ||
| amended by adding Section 37.0833 to read as follows: | ||
| Sec. 37.0833. BULLYING PREVENTION PILOT PROGRAM. (a) In | ||
| this section: | ||
| (1) "Bullying" has the meaning assigned by Section | ||
| 37.0832. | ||
| (2) "Pilot program" means the bullying prevention | ||
| pilot program established under this section. | ||
| (b) The agency shall: | ||
| (1) develop a bullying prevention pilot program to | ||
| reduce incidents of bullying on public school campuses; and | ||
| (2) award grants to eligible school districts to | ||
| implement the pilot program on district campuses. | ||
| (c) In developing the pilot program under Subsection (b), | ||
| the agency shall: | ||
| (1) use research-based best practices for the | ||
| prevention of bullying; and | ||
| (2) collaborate with qualified experts and | ||
| researchers with experience in child and youth psychology, mental | ||
| health, and education. | ||
| (d) From money appropriated for the purpose, the | ||
| commissioner shall award grants to school districts that | ||
| demonstrate a substantial need for bullying prevention, as | ||
| determined by the commissioner. A school district that is awarded a | ||
| grant under this subsection shall implement the pilot program at | ||
| not more than three campuses in the district. | ||
| (e) The agency shall use money appropriated for purposes of | ||
| the pilot program under this section to provide technical | ||
| assistance to grant recipients. The agency may provide technical | ||
| assistance through regional education service centers. | ||
| (f) The commissioner shall: | ||
| (1) establish application criteria for a school | ||
| district to apply to receive a grant under this section; and | ||
| (2) determine allowable uses of grant money by a | ||
| school district under this section. | ||
| (g) The commissioner may use money otherwise available and | ||
| may solicit or accept grants or donations to implement this | ||
| section. | ||
| (h) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to | ||
| implement this section. | ||
| (i) The commissioner is not required to develop the pilot | ||
| program or award grants under this section unless money is | ||
| specifically appropriated for that purpose. | ||
| SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. | ||
