89R5738 KRM-F     By: King S.B. No. 1298       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to instruction in online safety for minors provided in   public schools and by the Department of Public Safety.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 28.002, Education Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c-6) to read as   follows:          (a)  Each school district that offers kindergarten through   grade 12 shall offer, as a required curriculum:                (1)  a foundation curriculum that includes:                      (A)  English language arts;                      (B)  mathematics;                      (C)  science; and                      (D)  social studies, consisting of Texas, United   States, and world history, government, economics, with emphasis on   the free enterprise system and its benefits, and geography; and                (2)  an enrichment curriculum that includes:                      (A)  to the extent possible, languages other than   English;                      (B)  health, with emphasis on:                            (i)  physical health, including the   importance of proper nutrition and exercise;                            (ii)  mental health, including instruction   about mental health conditions, substance abuse, skills to manage   emotions, establishing and maintaining positive relationships, and   responsible decision-making; and                            (iii)  suicide prevention, including   recognizing suicide-related risk factors and warning signs;                      (C)  physical education;                      (D)  fine arts;                      (E)  career and technology education;                      (F)  technology applications;                      (G)  religious literature, including the Hebrew   Scriptures (Old Testament) and New Testament, and its impact on   history and literature; [and]                      (H)  personal financial literacy; and                      (I)  online safety, including instruction about   the potential dangers of using Internet websites, social media   applications, and applications that use artificial intelligence.          (c-6)  In adopting the essential knowledge and skills for the   online safety curriculum required under Subsection (a)(2)(I), the   State Board of Education shall adopt essential knowledge and skills   that develop each student's understanding of:                (1)  sharing information on social media;                (2)  maintaining personal security;                (3)  preventing oversharing of personal information;                (4)  identifying cyberbullying, predatory behavior,   and human trafficking on the Internet;                (5)  the permanence of information shared online;                (6)  how to report suspicious activity encountered on   the Internet to appropriate authorities; and                (7)  the topics described by Sections 37.218(b)(1),   (2), and (3).          SECTION 2.  Section 411.045(b), Government Code, is amended   to read as follows:          (b)  The bureau of training shall:                (1)  establish and operate schools for training   department personnel in their duties and functions;                (2)  establish and operate schools for training county   and municipal police officers who are selected to attend the   schools by the authorities of the law enforcement agencies that   employ them; and                (3)  establish and carry out a comprehensive plan for   the education of citizens of this state in matters of public safety   and crime prevention and detection, including the education of   citizens under the age of 18 concerning online safety when using   Internet websites, social media applications, and applications   that use artificial intelligence.          SECTION 3.  Section 28.002, Education Code, as amended by   this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 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.