HBA-KSM H.B. 448 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 448
By: Pitts
Public Education
4/20/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the principal of a public school is not required to handle a
student's threats to harm another or cause property damage that is likely
to result in bodily harm in any specific manner.  H.B. 448 requires the
principal or principal's designee who becomes aware of a student's threat
to cause serious bodily injury or property damage likely to result in
serious bodily injury, to notify local law enforcement officers, the
student's parents, and depending on the student's age, either the juvenile
probation department or the local Department of Protective and Regulatory
Services office, within six hours from the time the principal becomes aware
of the threat. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends the heading to Section 37.015, Education Code, as
follows: 

Sec. 37.015.  New Title:  REPORTS TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AND
OTHER PERSONS:  LIABILITY.   

SECTION 2.  Amends Section 37.015, Education Code,  by adding Subsection
(g), as follows: 

(g)  Requires a principal or the principal's designee who becomes aware of
a student's threat to cause serious bodily injury or property damage likely
to result in serious bodily injury, when required by Subsection (a), to
notify local law enforcement officers, the student's parents, and depending
on the student's age, either the juvenile probation department or the local
Department of Protective and Regulatory Services office, within six hours
from the time the principal becomes aware of the threat. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.