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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the development and use of instructional modules and |
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training for public schools on the prevention of sexual abuse and |
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sex trafficking. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 28.017, Education Code, as added by |
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Chapter 762 (S.B. 2039), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2017, is reenacted and amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.017. INSTRUCTION ON PREVENTION OF SEXUAL ABUSE AND |
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SEX TRAFFICKING. (a) The commissioner, in cooperation with the |
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human trafficking prevention task force created under Section |
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402.035, Government Code, and any other persons the commissioner |
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considers appropriate, shall develop one or more sexual abuse and |
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sex trafficking instructional modules that a school district may |
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use in the district's health curriculum. The modules must [may] |
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include: |
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(1) information on the different forms of sexual abuse |
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and assault, sex trafficking, and risk factors for sex trafficking; |
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(2) the procedures for reporting sexual abuse and sex |
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trafficking or suspected sexual abuse or sex trafficking; |
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(3) strategies for sexual abuse and assault prevention |
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and overcoming peer pressure; |
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(4) information on establishing healthy boundaries |
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for relationships, recognizing potentially abusive or harmful |
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relationships, and avoiding high-risk activities; |
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(5) the recruiting tactics of sex traffickers and peer |
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recruiters, including recruitment through the Internet; |
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(6) the legal aspects of sexual abuse and sex |
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trafficking under state and federal law; and |
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(7) the influence of culture and mass media on |
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perceptions of sexual abuse and sex trafficking, including |
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stereotypes and myths about victims and abusers, victim blaming, |
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and the role of language. |
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(b) The module or modules developed under Subsection (a) |
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must emphasize compassion for victims of sexual abuse or sex |
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trafficking and the creation of a positive reentry experience for |
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survivors of sexual abuse or sex trafficking into schools. |
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(c) Before the beginning of each school year, a school |
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district that elects to use a module developed under Subsection (a) |
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in the district's health curriculum shall provide written notice to |
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the parent of each student enrolled in the district that includes |
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the following: |
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(1) a statement that the district will provide |
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instruction relating to sexual abuse and sex trafficking awareness |
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to students enrolled in the district; |
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(2) a description of the material that will be used in |
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providing instruction to students; and |
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(3) a statement that the parent has the right to review |
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the material and remove the parent's student from the instruction. |
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(d) If a school district does not comply with the |
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requirements of Subsection (c), a parent of a student enrolled in |
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the district may file a complaint in accordance with the district's |
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grievance procedure developed under Section 26.011. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |