89R21442 MEW-F By: Hickland, et al. H.B. No. 1551 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1551: By: Buckley C.S.H.B. No. 1551 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the notification of parents of students enrolled in public school regarding certain alleged criminal conduct by an employee. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 22, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 22.088 to read as follows: Sec. 22.088. NOTICE TO PARENTS REGARDING CERTAIN EMPLOYEE CRIMINAL CONDUCT. (a) This section applies to an offense: (1) for which a conviction or grant of deferred adjudication community supervision requires the defendant to register as a sex offender under Chapter 62, Code of Criminal Procedure; (2) under Title 5, Penal Code, if the victim of the offense was under 18 years of age at the time the offense was committed; or (3) under Section 43.24, Penal Code. (b) Not later than the second school day after a school district or open-enrollment charter school becomes aware that an employee of the district or school has been charged with an offense to which this section applies, the district or school shall notify the parent or guardian of each student enrolled at the campus at which the employee is employed of the charged offense. The notice must include: (1) the employee's name and position; (2) whether the employee continues to be employed at the district or school; (3) the length of the employee's employment with the district or school; (4) the offense for which the employee is being charged; and (5) a statement that, under state and federal law, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. (c) A school district or open-enrollment charter school may include in the notice under Subsection (b) additional information regarding underlying facts or circumstances relating to the charged offense but may not disclose the identity of the alleged victim. (d) The commissioner by rule shall establish guidelines for providing notice under Subsection (b) during a period in which the school district or open-enrollment charter school is closed. SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. SECTION 3. 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, 2025.