88R4357 JTZ-D By: Schatzline H.B. No. 1370 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to requiring a single entrance to a public school campus; creating a criminal offense. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 37, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 37.1051 to read as follows: Sec. 37.1051. SINGLE ENTRANCE REQUIRED; OFFENSE. (a) A school district or open-enrollment charter school shall adopt a policy that: (1) limits public entry to each district or school campus to a single entrance; and (2) requires each external door to a district or school campus, other than the entrance designated under Subdivision (1), to be closed and locked to entry. (b) A school district or open-enrollment charter school shall post on each external door to a district or school campus, other than the entrance designated under Subsection (a)(1), a conspicuous sign that states that: (1) the door is not a public entrance and may not be: (A) used to allow another person to enter; or (B) left open, unsecured, and unattended; and (2) use of the door in a manner described by Subdivision (1) may constitute an offense under this section. (c) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly opens an external door to a school district or open-enrollment charter school campus, other than the entrance designated under Subsection (a)(1), and: (1) allows another person to enter the campus through that door; or (2) leaves the door open, unsecured, and unattended. (d) An offense under Subsection (c) is a state jail felony. (e) It is a defense to prosecution under Subsection (c) that at the time of the offense the person was acting: (1) in response to an emergency situation at the school district or open-enrollment charter school campus; and (2) in the person's capacity as: (A) a school district or open-enrollment charter school peace officer, school resource officer, security personnel member, or school marshal; (B) a peace officer; (C) a first responder or volunteer emergency services personnel, as those terms are defined by Section 46.01, Penal Code; (D) an emergency medical services volunteer, as defined by Section 773.003, Health and Safety Code; or (E) the parent of or person standing in parental relation to a student inside the campus. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.