School & After-School Care

School & After-School Care (K-12)

Bills that are relevant to school and after-school care research taking place at the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living can be viewed here.

School & After-School Care (K-12)
Bill #	Author	Status	Brief Description	Past Bills (2019)
HB 159	State Rep. Mary E. Gonzalez	PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/4/21, effective 9/1/21	The board shall propose rules: specifying what each educator is expected to know and be able to do, particularly with regard to students with disabilities. Companion Bill: SB 180
HB 572	State Rep. Harold V. Dutton, Jr.	PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/14/21, Effective immediately	For the purpose of offering during the 2022-2023 school year a dropout recovery competency-based educational pilot program to serve eligible students described by Section 12.203, the commissioner, subject to Subsection (b), may: (1) on the basis of an application submitted, grant a charter to an eligible entity for an open-enrollment charter school under Subchapter D to provide the program; (2) authorize an open-enrollment charter schools to provide the program; or (3) authorize a campus or campus program that has been granted a charter under Subchapter C to provide the program. Companion Bill: SB 880
HB 699	State Rep. Jon E. Rosenthal	PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/7/21, effective immediately	A school district shall excuse a student from attending school for an absence resulting from a serious or life-threatening illness or related treatment that makes the student's attendance infeasible, if the student or the student's parent or guardian provides a certification from a qualified physician specifying the student's illness and the anticipated period of the student's absence relating to the illness or related treatment.
HB 725	State Rep. Jared Patterson	PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/4/21, Effective immediately	Certain eligibilities for children in foster care to go to free pre kindergarten programs.
HB 785	State Rep. Alma A. Allen	PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/4/21, effective immediately	If a behavior improvement plan or a behavioral intervention plan is included as part of a student's individualized education program under Subsection (g), the committee shall review the plan at least annually and more frequently if appropriate.
HB 2287	State Rep. Senfronia Thompson	PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/15/21. Effective 9/1/21	The agency, in coordination with the task force, shall establish and maintain an electronic database of mental health services and trainings provided by school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to assist the task force and the institutions of higher education designated under Subsection (b) in evaluating mental health services. Companion Bill: SB 920
SB 123	State Sen. Nathan Johnson	PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/14/21. Effective 9/1/21	The State Board of Education will integrate positive character traits, including social and emotional skills, into the essential knowledge and skills adopted for kindergarten through grade 12, as appropriate.
SB 179	State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.	PASSED - Signed by the Governor on 6/18/21, effective 9/1/21	The board of trustees of each school district shall adopt a policy that requires a school counselor to spend at least 80 percent of the school counselor's total work time on duties that are components of a counseling program developed under Section 33.005 Companion Bill: HB 589
SB 204	State Sen. Charles Schwertner	PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/14/21, Effective immediately	A board of county school trustees or a school district board of trustees may establish and operate an economical public school transportation system. Companion Bill: HB 3129
SB 776	State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.	PASSED - Signed by the Governor 6/14/21, Effective 9/1/21	The University Interscholastic League shall ensure students with disabilities have an opportunity to participate in team athletic activities by establishing an adaptive sports program. Companion Bill: HB 2193
Bills Below Failed to Make it through Legislative Process
HB 24	State Rep. Alex Dominguez	Out of House Committee - 5/6/21	From funds appropriated for the purpose or any other available funds, the commissioner will distribute funds to each school district to provide at least one playground in the district that is inclusive and accessible for students with disabilities. Companion Bill: SB 520
HB 57	State Rep. James Talarico	Referred to Public Education - 2/25/21	Each school district that offers kindergarten through 12th grade will offer health, with emphasis on physical health, including the importance of proper nutrition and exercise. Companion Bill SB 229
HB 81	State Rep. Eddie Rodriguez	Out of House Committee - 4/27/21	A campus turnaround plan may permit a campus to operate as a community school. A plan to operate as a community school must include strategies and programs to coordinate academic, social, and health services and reduce barriers to learning through partnerships and service coordination. Companion Bill: SB 1581
HB 181	State Rep. Shawn Nicole Thierry	Referred to Public Education - 2/25/21	A school district or open-enrollment charter school will employ at least one full-time registered nurse at each campus of the district or school, and maintain an average ratio of not less than one full-time registered nurse for every 750 students enrolled at the district or school.
HB 303	State Rep. Nicole Collier	Referred to Public Education - 2/25/21	In addition to any water test required by the Safe Drinking Water Act, each school district and open-enrollment charter school must conduct first-draw tap tests of potable water outlets every five years, before the start of the school year, to monitor the amount of lead in the water. A school does not have to perform a first-draw tao test if the school is in a lead free zone as determined by the Safe Drinking Water Act, or if the school has under 1,000 students and does not have the funding.
HB 325	State Rep. Donna Howard	Referred to Public Health - 2/25/21	The department, for the primary purpose of establishing and maintaining a single repository of accurate, complete, and current immunization records to be used in aiding, coordinating, and promoting efficient and cost-effective communicable disease prevention and control efforts, shall establish and maintain an immunization registry. Companion Bill: SB 468
HB 353	State Rep. Harold V. Dutton, Jr.	Out of House Committee - 4/9/21	In the closing the gaps domain, the use of disaggregated data to demonstrate the differentials among students: (A) from different: (i) racial and ethnic groups, including African American and Hispanic students: (a) considered as a whole; and (b) disaggregated by sex; and (ii) socioeconomic backgrounds. Companion Bill: SB 393
HB 434	State Rep. Keith Bell	Left pending in House committee - 3/9/21	The State Board of Education by rule shall require that the curriculum requirements for the foundation high school program include a requirement that students successfully complete one credit in physical education. Companion Bill: SB 473
HB 518	State Rep. Michelle Beckley	Referred to Public Education - 3/1/21	The agency shall conduct a study regarding recommended standards for school district maintenance of facilities and custodial services, including a standard for appropriate custodial workloads to adequately maintain a school district's facilities.
HB 591	State Rep. Chris Turner	Referred to Public Health - 3/1/21	Requires each student shall be fully immunized against bacterial meningitis. Companion Bill: SB 138
HB 605	State Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins	Out of House Committee - 5/3/21	Each school district shall adopt a healthy and safe school water plan. The plan must include provisions for: (1) periodic testing for lead in school water sources; and (2) reducing exposure to elevated levels of lead in school water sources. Companion Bill: SB 2053
HB 640	State Rep. Richard Pena Raymond	Referred to Juvenile Justice & Family Issues - 3/1/21	The principal of a public or private primary or secondary school or open-enrollment charter school, or a person designated to serve as the campus behavior coordinator under Section 37.0012, who suspects a student of engaging in harmful or illegal conduct that poses a serious risk to the student or other students at the school may, with consent from the parent or guardian of the student, search the student and the possessions of the student for evidence of a violation of the law or school policy.
HB 742	State Rep. DeWayne Burns	Out of House Committee - 4/27/21	Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, if the commissioner approves an alternative accountability plan developed by a specialized support campus under Subsection (c), the commissioner shall determine, report, and consider the performance of students enrolled at the campus using that plan.
HB 807	State Rep. Gina Hinojosa	Referred to Public Education - 3/1/21	The commissioner, in consultation with administrators of specialized support campuses, teachers at specialized support campuses, parents and guardians of students enrolled at specialized support campuses, and other stakeholders, by rule shall establish appropriate accountability guidelines under this chapter for use by a specialized support campus in developing an alternative accountability plan under Subsection (c) based on the specific student population served by the campus. The commissioner shall provide for public notice and comment in adopting rules under this subsection.
HB 828	State Rep. Mary E. Gonzalez	Referred to Public Education - 3/1/21	Each school district that offers kindergarten through grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum disability studies.
HB 855	State Rep. Mary E. Gonzalez	Referred to Public Education - 3/1/21	The agency and the coordinating board jointly shall conduct a study on the transition to higher education for public school students with disabilities.
HB 961	State Rep. DeWayne Burns	Referred to Juvenile Justice & Family Issues - 3/1/21	A peace officer, law enforcement officer, or school resource officer may not issue a citation to a child who is alleged to have committed a school offense unless the child is alleged to have committed the offense while the child was in a disciplinary alternative education program.
HB 1015	State Rep. Steve Toth	Referred to Public Education - 3/4/21	The comptroller shall establish and administer an education micro-grant pilot program to provide funding for certain education-related expenses of eligible children.
HB 1302	State Rep. Ryan Guillen	Bill passed the House - 5/16/21	School districts and campuses must be evaluated based on three domains of indicators of achievement adopted under this section.
HB 1309	State Rep. Ryan Guillen	Referred to Public Education - 3/4/21	School districts and campuses must be evaluated based on three domains of indicators of achievement adopted under this section. Companion Bill: SB 382
HB 1411	State Rep. Gary Gates	No action taken in House committee - 5/4/21	A school district may, with the funds allotted under this section, provide a bus pass, [or] card for another transportation system, or prepaid fuel card to each student who is eligible to use the regular transportation system of the district but for whom the regular transportation system of the district is not a feasible method of providing transportation, including to a location at which students are provided work-based learning under the district's career and technology program. The commissioner by rule shall provide procedures for a school district to provide bus passes, [or] cards for another transportation system, or prepaid fuel cards to students under this subsection.
HB 1594	State Rep. Alma A. Allen	Referred to Public Education - 3/8/21	The Department of State Health Services School Health Advisory Committee established under Section 1001.0711, Health and Safety Code, shall develop model policies for the recess period during the school day that encourage constructive, age-appropriate outdoor playtime. The model policies must include guidelines for outdoor equipment and facilities on public school campuses that maximize the effectiveness of outdoor physical activity.
HB 1744	State Rep. Bobby Guerra	Bill passed the House - 5/16/21	The agency shall develop a program of study for use in career and technology education programs that prepares and assists students in pursuing a career teaching: (1) bilingual education; (2) English as a second language; or (3) Spanish.
HB 1811	State Rep. Valoree Swanson	Referred to Culture, Recreation & Tourism - 3/11/21	The commission shall use funds appropriated to the commission or consortium services fees collected from school districts under Section 441.224(b) to purchase online library resources for primary and secondary schools that meet the standards.
HB 2193	State Rep. Alex Dominguez	Out of House Committee - 4/30/21	The University Interscholastic League shall ensure students with disabilities have an opportunity to participate in team athletic activities by establishing an adaptive sports program. Companion Bill: SB 776
HB 2802	State Rep. Jay Dean	Bill passed the House - 5/13/21	If, during a school year, a statewide disaster declared by the president of the United States under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. Section 5121 et seq.) or by the governor under Chapter 418, Government Code, significantly disrupts school district operations, including in-person attendance, in a majority of school district in this state, the commissioner shall apply to the United States Department of Education for a waiver of the requirement under the Every Student Succeeds Act (20 U.S.C. Section 6301 et seq.) to administer assessment instruments during that school year.
HB 3089	State Rep. Lacey Hull	Out of House Committee - 5/3/21	The local school health advisory council shall meet at least four times each year. All meetings of the council must be conducted in compliance with Chapter 551, Government Code.
HB 3129	State Rep. Dan Huberty	Out of House Committee - 4/9/21	A board of county school trustees or a school district board of trustees may establish and operate an economical public school transportation system. Companion Bill: SB 204
HB 3148	State Rep. John H. Bucy III	Referred to Public Education - 3/19/21	The commissioner by rule shall require the committee to develop a behavior improvement plan or a behavioral intervention plan under Section 29.0052 if appropriate for a student for whom the committee has developed an individualized education program. If the committee develops a behavior improvement plan or behavioral intervention plan, the plan must be included as part of the student's individualized education program and provided to each employee of the school district [teacher] with responsibility for educating or monitoring the student
HB 3406	State Rep. Richard Pena Raymond	Referred to Public Education - 3/22/21	To the extent funds are available for the purpose, the agency shall establish a mobile Internet access hotspot grant program to provide grants to eligible school districts to facilitate distance learning.
HB 3591	State Rep. Jacey Jetton	Out of House Committee - 5/3/21	The agency shall establish a high-speed Internet access grant program to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to provide high-speed Internet to facilitate instruction and learning for students enrolled in the district or school.
HB 3870	State Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr.	Referred to Public Education - 3/24/21	Students enrolling in public schools in this state shall be screened or tested, as appropriate, for dyslexia and related disorders at appropriate times in accordance with a program approved by the agency. The program must include screening at the end of the school year of each student in kindergarten and each student in the first grade.
HB 3872	State Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr.	No action taken in House committee - 4/28/21	The local school health advisory council must consist of at least five members, with each member appointed by the board of trustees [shall appoint at least five members to the local school health advisory council]. A majority of the members must be persons who are parents of students enrolled in the district and who are not employed by the district. One of those members shall serve as chair or co-chair of the council. Companion Bill: SB 442
HB 3880	State Rep. Harold V. Dutton Jr.	Bill passed the House - 5/16/21 Bill passed the Senate - 5/26/21	A student is eligible to participate in a school districts special education program if the student: (1) is not more than 21 years of age and has a visual or auditory impairment that prevents the student from being adequately or safely educated in public school without the provision of specially designed instruction [special services]; or (2) is at least three but not more than 21 years of age and has one or more of the following disabilities that prevents the student from being adequately or safely educated in public school without the provision of specially designed instruction. Companion Bill: SB 1694
HB 4111	State Rep. James Talarico	Referred to Public Education - 3/29/21	Each school district to which this section applies must employ a diversity, equity, and inclusion officer.
HB 4273	State Rep. Gina Hinojosa	Referred to Public Education - 3/29/21	If the operations or in-person student attendance of a school district or open-enrollment charter school are substantially disrupted as a result of a declared disaster, the district school shall submit a report to the agency in accordance with Subsections (c) and (d).
HB 4416	State Rep. James Talarico	Referred to Public Education - 3/29/21	A school district peace officer or school resource officer shall complete the school districts comprehensive training program on dating violence, sexual assault, stalking, sexual abuse, and sexual harassment as required by Section 37.0831.
SB 78	State Sen. Borris L. Miles	Referred to Education - 3/3/21	School has to notify parents if it does not have a nurse, school counselor, or librarian assigned to the school during all instructional hours.
SB 138	State Sen. Nathan Johnson	Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/3/21	Requires each student shall be fully immunized against bacterial meningitis. Companion Bill: HB 591
SB 174	State Sen. Borris L. Miles	Referred to Education - 3/3/21	The agency shall advise school districts regarding training materials and resources for a school district to use in assisting educators.
SB 180	State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.	Out of Senate Committee - 4/30/21	The board shall propose rules: (1) specifying what each educator is expected to know and be able to do, particularly with regard to students with disabilities. Companion Bill: HB 159
SB 229	State Sen. Nathan Johnson	Referred to Education - 3/3/21	The agency shall advise school regarding training materials and resources for a school district to use in assisting educators to:(1) develop civics projects and methods of teaching as described in Section 28.0022. Companion Bill HB 57
SB 238	State Sen. Beverly Powell	Referred to Education - 3/3/21	From funds appropriated for that purpose, the commissioner shall provide to a school district an annual allotment in the amount provided by appropriation for each student in average daily attendance.
SB 256	State Sen. Jose Menendez	Referred to Education - 3/3/21	Beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, an educator employed by a school district for the 2019-2020 or 2020-2021 school year who resigned or retired from the educator's position after the 2019-2020 school year or during the 2020-2021 school year solely because of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic is entitled to: (1) reinstatement to the educator's former position or an equivalent position; and (2) reinstatement of any fringe benefits and seniority rights that the educator was entitled to before the educator's resignation or retirement.
SB 382	State Sen. Beverly Powell	Referred to Education - 3/9/21	School districts and campuses must be evaluated based on three domains of indicators of achievement adopted under this section. Companion Bill: HB 1309
SB 393	State Sen. Borris L. Miles	Left pending in Senate committee - 4/27/21	In the closing the gaps domain, the use of disaggregated data to demonstrate the differentials among students: (A) from different: (i) racial and ethnic groups, including African American and Hispanic students: (a) considered as a whole; and (b) disaggregated by sex; and (ii) socioeconomic backgrounds. Companion Bill: HB 353
SB 442	State Sen. Bryan Hughes	Bill passed the Senate - 4/19/21 Out of House committee 5/19/21.	The local school health advisory council must consist of at least five members, with each member appointed by the board of trustees [shall appoint at least five members to the local school health advisory council]. A majority of the members must be persons who are parents of students enrolled in the district and who are not employed by the district. One of those members shall serve as chair or co-chair of the council. Companion Bill: HB 3872
SB 468	State Sen. Judith Zaffirini	Referred to Health & Human Services - 3/9/21	The department, for the primary purpose of establishing and maintaining a single repository of accurate, complete, and current immunization records to be used in aiding, coordinating, and promoting efficient and cost-effective communicable disease prevention and control efforts, shall establish and maintain an immunization registry. Companion Bill: HB 325
SB 520	State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.	Referred to Education - 3/9/21	From funds appropriated for the purpose or any other available funds, the commissioner shall distribute funds to each school district to provide at least one playground in the district that is inclusive and accessible for students with disabilities. Companion Bill: HB 24
SB 688	State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.	Referred to Education - 3/11/21	The commissioner shall develop and periodically update materials for use in evaluating the special education services provided to a student under this subchapter.
SB 880	State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.	Referred to Education - 3/11/21	For the purpose of offering during the 2022-2023 school year a dropout recovery competency-based educational pilot program to serve eligible students described by Section 12.203, the commissioner, subject to Subsection (b), may: (1) on the basis of an application submitted, grant a charter to an eligible entity for an open-enrollment charter school under Subchapter D to provide the program; (2) authorize an open-enrollment charter schools to provide the program; or (3) authorize a campus or campus program that has been granted a charter under Subchapter C to provide the program. Companion Bill: HB 572
SB 1581	State Sen. Judith Zaffirini	Referred to Education - 3/24/21	A campus turnaround plan may permit a campus to operate as a community school. A plan to operate as a community school must include strategies and programs to coordinate academic, social, and health services and reduce barriers to learning through partnerships and service coordination. Companion Bill: HB 81
SB 1694	State Sen. Angela Paxton	Referred to Education - 3/26/21	A student is eligible to participate in a school districts special education program if the student: (1) is not more than 21 years of age and has a visual or auditory impairment that prevents the student from being adequately or safely educated in public school without the provision of specially designed instruction [special services]; or (2) is at least three but not more than 21 years of age and has one or more of the following disabilities that prevents the student from being adequately or safely educated in public school without the provision of specially designed instruction. Companion Bill: HB 3880
SB 2053	State Sen. Jose Menendez	Referred to Education - 4/1/21	Each school district shall adopt a healthy and safe school water plan. The plan must include provisions for: (1) periodic testing for lead in school water sources; and (2) reducing exposure to elevated levels of lead in school water sources. Companion Bill: HB 605

Mental Health
Bill #	Author	Status	Brief Description	Past Bills (2019)
HB 287	State Rep. Mary E. Gonzalez	Referred to Public Education - 2/25/21	Updates the guidelines of how many students per counselors are required in schools.
HB 589	State Rep. Mary E. Gonzalez	Referred to Public Education - 3/1/21	The board of trustees of each school district shall adopt a policy that requires a school counselor to spend at least 80 percent of the school counselor's total work time on duties that are components of a counseling program developed under Section 33.005. Companion Bill: SB 179
HB 771	State Rep. Steve Allison	Referred to Public Education - 3/1/21	Each school district that offers kindergarten through grade 12 shall offer bullying and cyberbullying curriculum.
HB 1713	State Rep. Alex Dominguez	Referred to Public Education - 3/10/21	A school district with 500 or more students in average daily attendance shall employ a mental health professional for every 500 students in the district.
HB 1726	State Rep. Steve Allison	Bill passed the House - 5/8/21 Referred to Senate Education - 5/12/21	The commissioner by rule shall require each school district and open-enrollment charter school to annually report through the Public Education Information Management System the number of reported incidents of bullying that have occurred at each campus. The commissioner's rules shall require a district or school to specify the number of incidents of bullying that included cyberbullying. Companion Bill: SB 407
HB 2954	State Rep. Senfronia Thompson	Bill passed the House - 5/6/21 Out of House Committee - 5/24/21	To the extent funds are appropriated to the agency for that purpose, the agency shall establish a suicide prevention, intervention, and post-vention program for optional implementation at an elementary school campus of a school district described by Subsection (c). Companion Bill: SB 980
HB 3667	State Rep. John H. Bucy III	Referred to Public Education - 3/22/21	The task force shall: (1) conduct a study on the issues related to the shortage of school psychologists among school districts, including supply and demand issues for school-based psychological services among districts; and (2) provide recommendations for increasing the presence of school psychologists in school districts and increasing the use of school-based psychological services, as needed.
HB 4257	State Rep. Penny Morales Shaw	Out of House Committee - 5/6/21	A policy required by this section must address the district's plan for providing support to students, teachers, and district staff in the event of a crisis, including through methods such as mental health first aid and referrals to community providers for mental health services.
SB 178	State Sen. Eddie Lucio, Jr.	Left pending in Senate committee - 3/18/21	A school district with 500 or more students in enrollment shall employ a school counselor for each school in the district. A school district shall employ at least one school counselor for every 500 students in the district.
SB 407	State Sen. Jose Menendez	Referred to Education - 3/9/21	The commissioner by rule shall require each school district and open-enrollment charter school to annually report through the Public Education Information Management System the number of reported incidents of bullying that have occurred at each campus. The commissioner's rules shall require a district or school to specify the number of incidents of bullying that included cyberbullying. Companion Bill: HB 1726
SB 920	State Sen. Beverly Powell	Referred to Education - 3/11/21	The agency, in coordination with the task force, shall establish and maintain an electronic database of mental health services and trainings provided by school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to assist the task force and the institutions of higher education designated under Subsection (b) in evaluating mental health services. Companion Bill: HB 2287
SB 980	State Sen. Beverly Powell	Left pending in Senate committee - 4/20/21	The agency, in coordination with the task force, shall establish and maintain an electronic database of mental health services and trainings provided by school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to assist the task force and the institutions of higher education designated under Subsection (b) in evaluating mental health services. Companion Bill: HB 2954