Relating to the notification of parents of students enrolled in public school regarding certain alleged criminal conduct by an employee.

89(R) HB 1551 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text

89R21442 MEW-F

By: Hickland, et al.

H.B. No. 1551

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1551:

By: Buckley

C.S.H.B. No. 1551

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the notification of parents of students enrolled in

public school regarding certain alleged criminal conduct by an

employee.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 22, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 22.088 to read as follows:

Sec.

22.088.

NOTICE TO PARENTS REGARDING CERTAIN EMPLOYEE

CRIMINAL CONDUCT. (a)

This section applies to an offense:

(1)

for which a conviction or grant of deferred

adjudication community supervision requires the defendant to

register as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal

Procedure;

(2)

under Title 5, Penal Code, if the victim of the

offense was under 18 years of age at the time the offense was

committed; or

(3) under Section 43.24, Penal Code.

(b)

Not later than the second school day after a school

district or open-enrollment charter school becomes aware that an

employee of the district or school has been charged with an offense

to which this section applies, the district or school shall notify

the parent or guardian of each student enrolled at the campus at

which the employee is employed of the charged offense. The notice

must include:

(1) the employee's name and position;

(2)

whether the employee continues to be employed at

the district or school;

(3)

the length of the employee's employment with the

district or school;

(4)

the offense for which the employee is being

charged; and

(5)

a statement that, under state and federal law, a

person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

(c)

A school district or open-enrollment charter school may

include in the notice under Subsection (b) additional information

regarding underlying facts or circumstances relating to the charged

offense but may not disclose the identity of the alleged victim.

(d)

The commissioner by rule shall establish guidelines for

providing notice under Subsection (b) during a period in which the

school district or open-enrollment charter school is closed.

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026

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, 2025.