Source: http://www.bullypolice.org/tx_law.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 13:55:55+00:00

Document:
. A special thank you to Ravin Hill, Texas School Business Magazine, for submitting the new additions to the Texas Anti Bullying Laws.
Synopsis: Normally, Texas would get a new grade of "A-" for points, www.bullypolice.org/grade.html, under the "Making the Grade" point system but these new additions are so good, ie., parental notification, counseling for bullies AND victims, sexting and cyberbullying clauses, etc., that I have decided to give them an A++ rating. In the future, the "grading scale" will become an ungraded total point system, and Texas will lose points for not having a strong accountability clause (point 11), protections against reprisal, retaliation and false accusation (point 8) and better protections against lawsuits upon compliance to policies (point 9).
SB 407 – Requires the Texas School Safety Center to develop programs that address “sexting” (sexually explicit material or photos sent by text message), and better responses to incidents of bullying and “cyberbullying” (bullying through the Internet).
SB 471 and HB 1942 – Starting in 2012-2013 – Expands the requirements on school districts to address bullying and harassment, such as parental notification, programs for students and staff, providing counseling to bullies and victims and protecting those who report bullying. Charter schools also are required to adopt a policy on sexual abuse starting this year.
HB 1942 – Expands the definition of bullying and allows school districts to transfer the bully to another classroom or campus within the district.
HB 1386 – Requires the development of intervention and prevention programs to train school staff to recognize potential suicide victims, to include those students targeted by bullies.
relating to admission, assignment, and conduct of certain public school students.
Sec. 25.0341. TRANSFER OF VICTIMS OF BULLYING.
(2) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student.
(2) a campus in the school district other than the campus to which the victim was assigned at the time the bullying occurred.
(c) The board of trustees or the board's designee shall verify that a student has been a victim of bullying before transferring the student under this section.
(d) The board of trustees or the board's designee may consider past student behavior when identifying a bully.
(e) The determination by the board of trustees or the board's designee is final and may not be appealed.
(f) A school district is not required to provide transportation to a student who transfers to another campus under Subsection (b)(2).
(g) Section 25.034 does not apply to a transfer under this section.
(C) preventing and intervening in student discipline problems, including bullying, harassment, and making hit lists.
(1) "Harassment" means threatening to cause harm or bodily injury to another student, engaging in sexually intimidating conduct, causing physical damage to the property of another student, subjecting another student to physical confinement or restraint, or maliciously taking any action that substantially harms another student's physical or emotional health or safety.
(C) any other object to be used with intent to cause bodily harm. (b-1) The methods adopted under Subsection (a)(8) must provide that a student who is enrolled in a special education program under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, may not be disciplined for conduct prohibited in accordance with Subsection (a)(7) until an admission, review, and dismissal committee meeting has been held to review the conduct.
(a) Each school district shall adopt and implement a discipline management program to be included in the district improvement plan under Section 11.252. The program must provide for prevention of and education concerning unwanted physical or verbal aggression, sexual harassment, and other forms of bullying in school, on school grounds, and in school vehicles.
SECTION 5. 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, 2005.
§ 37.001. STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT.
(6) address the notification of a student's parent or guardian of a violation of the student code of conduct committed by the student that results in suspension, removal to a disciplinary alternative education program, or expulsion.
(b) Repealed by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1055, § 30.
(c) Once the student code of conduct is promulgated, any change or amendment must be approved by the board of trustees.
(d) Each school year, a school district shall provide parents notice of and information regarding the student code of conduct.
§ 37.006. REMOVAL FOR CERTAIN CONDUCT.
...(2) the continued presence of the student in the regular classroom threatens the safety of other students or teachers or will be detrimental to the educational process.
§ 37.0081. PLACEMENT OF CERTAIN STUDENTS IN ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
(C) is not in the best interests of the district's students.
(1) "Educational institution" includes a public or private high school.
(2) "Pledge" means any person who has been accepted by, is considering an offer of membership from, or is in the process of qualifying for membership in an organization.
(3) "Pledging" means any action or activity related to becoming a member of an organization.
(C) intends to attend an educational institution during any of its regular sessions after a period of scheduled vacation.
(5) "Organization" means a fraternity, sorority, association, corporation, order, society, corps, club, or service, social, or similar group, whose members are primarily students.
Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 260, § 1, eff. May 30, 1995.
§ 37.152. PERSONAL HAZING OFFENSE.
(4) has firsthand knowledge of the planning of a specific hazing incident involving a student in an educational institution, or has firsthand knowledge that a specific hazing incident has occurred, and knowingly fails to report that knowledge in writing to the dean of students or other appropriate official of the institution.
(b) The offense of failing to report is a Class B misdemeanor.
(c) Any other offense under this section that does not cause serious bodily injury to another is a Class B misdemeanor.
(d) Any other offense under this section that causes serious bodily injury to another is a Class A misdemeanor.
(e) Any other offense under this section that causes the death of another is a state jail felony.
(f) Except if an offense causes the death of a student, in sentencing a person convicted of an offense under this section, the court may require the person to perform community service, subject to the same conditions imposed on a person placed on community supervision under Section 11, Article 42.12, Code of Criminal Procedure, for an appropriate period of time in lieu of confinement in county jail or in lieu of a part of the time the person is sentenced to confinement in county jail.
§ 37.153. ORGANIZATION HAZING OFFENSE.
(a) An organization commits an offense if the organization condones or encourages hazing or if an officer or any combination of members, pledges, or alumni of tHe organization commits or assists in the commission of hazing.
(2) if the court finds that the offense caused personal injury, property damage, or other loss, a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than double the amount lost or expenses incurred because of the injury, damage, or loss.
§ 37.154. CONSENT NOT A DEFENSE. It is not a defense to prosecution of an offense under this subchapter that the person against whom the hazing was directed consented to or acquiesced in the hazing activity.
§ 37.155. IMMUNITY FROM PROSECUTION AVAILABLE.
participation in any judicial proceeding resulting from the report. A person reporting in bad faith or with malice is not protected by this section.

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