S.B. No. 1262 is a legislative measure aimed at enhancing public school safety in Texas through several key initiatives. The bill allows the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to commission peace officers certified by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, granting them the authority to perform their duties as peace officers. It also introduces new training requirements for school district employees acting as security officers, focusing on critical areas such as active shooter response and mental health. Additionally, the bill mandates that school districts develop comprehensive multihazard emergency operations plans, which must include training, communication, and coordination with local emergency services, as well as annual reporting on school safety assessments.

The legislation amends various sections of the Education Code and Local Government Code to strengthen school safety measures. It requires school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to report campus security deficiencies and recommendations for corrective actions. The bill also stipulates that threat assessment teams for special education students must include professionals knowledgeable about the student's disability. Furthermore, it modifies the Texas School Safety Center's board of directors by adding an administrator from a public junior college and adjusting board member terms. School districts are required to reevaluate their compliance with safety standards every five years, and the bill outlines the use of allocated funds for safety improvements. The bill is set to take effect in the 2025-2026 school year, with provisions for immediate implementation if passed by a two-thirds majority.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 7.021, Education Code 37.1031, Education Code 37.108, Education Code 37.222, Education Code 37.353, Local Government Code 85.024 (Education Code 37, Education Code 7, Local Government Code 85)
Senate Committee Report: Education Code 7.021, Education Code 37.1031, Education Code 37.108, Education Code 37.115, Education Code 37.203, Education Code 37.222, Education Code 37.353, Education Code 48.115, Local Government Code 85.024, Education Code 37.2161 (Education Code 37, Education Code 7, Education Code 48, Local Government Code 85)