85R12450 GCB-F     By: Lucio S.B. No. 1699       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to a model framework to address certain barriers to   student learning.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 38.034 to read as follows:          Sec. 38.034.  MODEL FRAMEWORK TO ADDRESS CERTAIN BARRIERS TO   STUDENT LEARNING. (a)  The agency, in coordination with the Health   and Human Services Commission and the Texas Department of Juvenile   Justice, shall develop a model framework to assist school districts   in identifying and coordinating, to the greatest extent possible,   an array of existing school-based and community-based programs and   resources to maximize the individual and collective impact of those   programs and resources for the purposes of:                (1)  addressing nonacademic barriers to student   learning, including for students in a special education program   under Subchapter A, Chapter 29; and                (2)  reducing the use of exclusionary discipline   practices.          (b)  The model framework developed under Subsection (a) may   include programs and resources, including strategies, addressing:                (1)  skills related to managing emotions, establishing   and maintaining positive relationships, and making responsible   decisions;                (2)  positive school climate;                (3)  positive behavior strategies;                (4)  student physical and mental health, including the   effects of childhood trauma and adverse experiences on development   and behavior;                (5)  substance abuse prevention and intervention;                (6)  bullying prevention and intervention;                (7)  suicide prevention;                (8)  truancy prevention and intervention;                (9)  delinquency prevention and intervention; and                (10)  dropout prevention.          (c)  The agency, in coordination with regional education   service centers, shall provide school districts with training and   technical assistance on:                (1)  the use of the model framework developed under   Subsection (a); and                (2)  the use of developmentally appropriate,   evidence-based strategies in reducing the use of exclusionary   discipline practices in prekindergarten programs and special   education programs under Subchapter A, Chapter 29, and in grades 1   through 12, including strategies that promote:                      (A)  skills related to managing emotions,   establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and making   responsible decisions;                      (B)  school-wide positive behavioral   interventions and supports;                      (C)  restorative discipline practices; and                      (D)  trauma-informed practices.          (d)  The agency shall coordinate with the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board to identify institutions of higher   education and private or independent institutions of higher   education, as those terms are defined under Section 61.003, with   expertise in the strategies described by Subsection (c)(2). To the   greatest extent possible, the agency shall partner with those   institutions to provide training, technical assistance, and   information to school districts on using the programs and   resources, including strategies, identified under the model   framework.          (e)  The agency shall identify best practices in addressing   nonacademic barriers to learning that are implemented in school   districts and communities in this state.          (f)  The agency shall develop and implement a plan to   facilitate peer-to-peer learning among school districts and   community-based providers and to replicate the best practices   described by Subsection (e).          SECTION 2.  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, 2017.