89R995 KJE-F     By: González of El Paso H.B. No. 1272       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to healthy relationships education in public schools.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 28.0041 to read as follows:          Sec. 28.0041.  HEALTHY RELATIONSHIPS EDUCATION. (a) In   this section, "age-appropriate" means suitable to particular ages   or age groups of children or adolescents, based on developing   cognitive, emotional, and behavioral capacity typical for the age   or age group.          (b)  A school district shall provide healthy relationships   education in accordance with this section at grade levels and in   courses specified by the State Board of Education.          (c)  The State Board of Education by rule shall adopt the   essential knowledge and skills for curricula to be used by a school   district in providing healthy relationships education under this   section that are age-appropriate and supported by research that is   peer-reviewed, conducted in compliance with accepted scientific   methods, and recognized as accurate by leading professional   organizations and agencies with relevant experience. As   age-appropriate, the curricula must promote relationship,   communication, and decision-making skills, including strategies   to:                (1)  develop healthy, age-appropriate relationships;                (2)  develop healthy life skills, including critical   thinking, problem solving, effective communication, and   responsible decision making about relationships; and                (3)  promote effective communication between   adolescents and their parents, legal guardians, or other family   members about relationships.          (d)  A school district shall make all curriculum materials   used in the district's healthy relationships education available   for reasonable public inspection.          (e)  A student shall be excused from healthy relationships   education on the written request of a parent or legal guardian   without being subjected to any disciplinary action, academic   penalty, or other sanction imposed by the school district or the   student's school.          (f)  A parent or legal guardian may use the grievance   procedure adopted under Section 26.011 concerning a complaint of a   violation of this section.          (g)  Before each school year, a school district shall provide   written notice to a parent or legal guardian of each student   enrolled in the district of the intent to provide healthy   relationships education under this section. The notice must   include:                (1)  a summary of the basic content of the healthy   relationships education to be provided to the student;                (2)  a description of the curricula requirements for   healthy relationships education under Subsection (c);                (3)  a statement of the parent's or legal guardian's   right to:                      (A)  review curriculum materials as provided by   Subsection (d);                      (B)  remove the student from any part of the   district's healthy relationships education as provided by   Subsection (e); and                      (C)  use the grievance procedure adopted under   Section 26.011 concerning a complaint of a violation of this   section, as provided by Subsection (f); and                (4)  information regarding any opportunities for the   parent or legal guardian to participate in the development of   curricula for healthy relationships education.          SECTION 2.  Section 12.104(b), Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (b)  An open-enrollment charter school is subject to:                (1)  a provision of this title establishing a criminal   offense;                (2)  the provisions in Chapter 554, Government Code;   and                (3)  a prohibition, restriction, or requirement, as   applicable, imposed by this title or a rule adopted under this   title, relating to:                      (A)  the Public Education Information Management   System (PEIMS) to the extent necessary to monitor compliance with   this subchapter as determined by the commissioner;                      (B)  criminal history records under Subchapter C,   Chapter 22;                      (C)  reading instruments and accelerated reading   instruction programs under Section 28.006;                      (D)  accelerated instruction under Section   28.0211;                      (E)  high school graduation requirements under   Section 28.025;                      (F)  special education programs under Subchapter   A, Chapter 29;                      (G)  bilingual education under Subchapter B,   Chapter 29;                      (H)  prekindergarten programs under Subchapter E   or E-1, Chapter 29, except class size limits for prekindergarten   classes imposed under Section 25.112, which do not apply;                      (I)  extracurricular activities under Section   33.081;                      (J)  discipline management practices or behavior   management techniques under Section 37.0021;                      (K)  health and safety under Chapter 38;                      (L)  the provisions of Subchapter A, Chapter 39;                      (M)  public school accountability and special   investigations under Subchapters A, B, C, D, F, G, and J, Chapter   39, and Chapter 39A;                      (N)  the requirement under Section 21.006 to   report an educator's misconduct;                      (O)  intensive programs of instruction under   Section 28.0213;                      (P)  the right of a school employee to report a   crime, as provided by Section 37.148;                      (Q)  bullying prevention policies and procedures   under Section 37.0832;                      (R)  the right of a school under Section 37.0052   to place a student who has engaged in certain bullying behavior in a   disciplinary alternative education program or to expel the student;                      (S)  the right under Section 37.0151 to report to   local law enforcement certain conduct constituting assault or   harassment;                      (T)  a parent's right to information regarding the   provision of assistance for learning difficulties to the parent's   child as provided by Sections 26.004(b)(11) and 26.0081(c) and (d);                      (U)  establishment of residency under Section   25.001;                      (V)  school safety requirements under Sections   37.0814, 37.108, 37.1081, 37.1082, 37.1083, 37.1084, 37.1085,   37.1086, 37.109, 37.113, 37.114, 37.1141, 37.115, 37.207, and   37.2071 and Subchapter J, Chapter 37;                      (W)  the early childhood literacy and mathematics   proficiency plans under Section 11.185;                      (X)  the college, career, and military readiness   plans under Section 11.186; [and]                      (Y)  parental options to retain a student under   Section 28.02124; and                      (Z)  healthy relationships education under   Section 28.0041.          SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2026-2027   school year.          SECTION 4.  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.