H.B. No. 1010 is a legislative measure aimed at enhancing safety and security in Texas public schools by introducing several key amendments to the Education Code. The bill establishes a new section (8.064) that designates regional education service centers as resources for school districts and charter schools to develop emergency operations plans, conduct drills, and address security deficiencies. It mandates the adoption of multihazard emergency operations plans and requires safety audits every three years, with definitions for emergency preparedness provided by the Texas School Safety Center. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the importance of student records in safety protocols, requiring schools to share disciplinary records and threat assessments during student transfers, and reduces the truancy referral threshold from ten to six absences within an eight-week period.

Moreover, H.B. No. 1010 mandates the creation of a classroom safety referral board in public schools, which will consist of various stakeholders, including teachers and law enforcement, to review cases of student misconduct. The bill also establishes provisions for the Texas Education Agency to monitor school safety requirements and create regional safety review teams for campus vulnerability assessments. It includes funding allocations for improving safety measures and updates truancy definitions. The bill is set to take effect in the 2025-2026 school year, with immediate implementation possible upon a two-thirds vote from both legislative houses.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 7.028, Education Code 25.002, Education Code 25.036, Education Code 25.095, Education Code 65.003, Education Code 37.2071, Education Code 37.2091, Education Code 48.115, Family Code 65.003 (Education Code 25, Education Code 65, Education Code 48, Education Code 37, Education Code 7, Family Code 65)