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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to bullying as a ground for removing a public school |
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student from class and placing the student in a disciplinary |
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alternative education program. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 37.006, Education Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (p) to read as follows: |
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(p) A student shall be removed from class and placed in a |
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disciplinary alternative education program as provided by Section |
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37.008 if the student, on or within 300 feet of school property, as |
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measured from any point on the school's real property boundary |
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line, or while attending a school-sponsored or school-related |
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activity on or off of school property, including while on a school |
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bus or at a school bus stop, engages in bullying. In this |
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subsection, "bullying" means engaging in written or oral expression |
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or physical conduct that: |
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(1) the student knows or reasonably believes will |
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cause significant emotional distress to another student; |
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(2) causes significant emotional distress to another |
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student; and |
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(3) would cause significant emotional distress to a |
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reasonable person under the same circumstances. |
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SECTION 2. Section 37.006(p), Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies beginning with the 2009-2010 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, 2009. |