By: Rose H.B. No. 5615       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the establishment of a grant program for preventing   violence and substance abuse in public schools.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 38, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 38.029 to read as follows:          Sec. 38.029.  VIOLENCE AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION GRANT   PROGRAM. (a) From money appropriated or otherwise available for   the purpose, the agency shall establish and administer a grant   program to award grants to eligible school districts to implement a   violence and substance abuse prevention program that includes   opioid abuse prevention.          (b)  A school district is eligible to receive a grant under   the grant program if the district demonstrates a need for violence   and substance abuse prevention initiatives based on:                (1)  incidents of violence or issues related to   substance abuse, including opioid and alcohol abuse;                (2)  high rates of suspensions or expulsions from   school or law enforcement interactions related to violence or   controlled substances; and                (3)  a demonstrated desire to implement proactive,   non-punitive measures that address both violence and the opioid   epidemic.          (c)  An eligible school district may submit to the agency an   application to receive a grant under the grant program that   includes:                (1)  an assessment of the district's needs relating to   violence and substance abuse issues;                (2)  a plan for implementing a violence interrupters   program that may include a partnership with a community-based   organization, and will train staff, mediate conflicts, mentor   students, and intervene in situations of potential violence or   substance abuse before the situations escalate, including   proposals regarding staffing, training, and community   partnerships; and                (3)  a budget outlining the use of grant money.          (d)  The amount of a grant awarded under the grant program to   a school district must be based on:                (1)  the number of students enrolled in the district;                (2)  the district's need for the grant, based on   incidents of violence and substance abuse; and                (3)  the quality and comprehensiveness of the   district's proposed violence interrupters program described by   Subsection (c)(2), including the integration of substance abuse   prevention efforts.          (e)  A school district that receives a grant under the grant   program may partner with a community-based organization to use the   money to implement a violence and substance abuse prevention   program described by Subsection (a), including by:                (1)  hiring and training employees to prevent violence   and substance abuse by specializing in de-escalation, conflict   mediation, and violence prevention;                (2)  hiring and training substance abuse counselors;                (3)  implementing support services for students to   prevent violence and substance abuse, including drug education,   counseling, conflict mediation, and mentoring;                (4)  providing resources focused on preventing   violence and substance abuse, such as educational materials,   workshops, and community outreach programs; and                (5)  evaluating and reporting on the outcomes and   effectiveness of the program in preventing violence and substance   abuse.          (f)  A school district that receives a grant under the grant   program may partner with a community-based organization to develop   and execute a violence interrupter and substance abuse program for   use by the school district to educate students on a violence   interruption and substance abuse prevention techniques described   by Subsection (c)(2). The program must:                (1)  include:                      (A)  substance abuse prevention and intervention   strategies;                      (B)  participation in violence abatement by   directly interacting with students; and                      (C)  de-escalation techniques, conflict   resolution, trauma-informed care, substance abuse intervention,   and restorative justice practices; and                (2)  be offered on a continuous basis to ensure staff   and student effectiveness in addressing violence and substance   abuse; and                (3)  be designed to:                      (A)  meet specific campus and community needs   identified by school districts and community-based organizations;   and                      (B)  address external, community-based factors   that affect school safety.          (g)  A school district that receives a grant under the grant   program shall submit an annual report to the agency regarding:                (1)  the use of grant money received under the grant   program; and                (2)  the outcomes and effectiveness of the measures to   prevent violence and substance abuse implemented with the grant,   including:                      (A)  the number of violence and substance abuse   incidents intervened; and                      (B)  data on:                            (i)  reductions in violence and substance   abuse;                            (ii)  improvements in attendance and   academic performance; and                            (iii)  student, staff, and community   feedback on safety and substance abuse prevention.          (h)  The agency shall annually conduct a statewide   evaluation of the effectiveness of violence interrupters programs   described by Subsection (c)(2) in addressing violence and substance   abuse and submit to the legislature a report on the evaluation. The   evaluation must include a cost-benefit analysis regarding the grant   program and any recommendations for improvements to or expansions   of the grant program.          (i)  The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to   administer the grant program.          (j)  This section expires September 1, 2030.          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, 2025.