H.B. No. 2919 amends the Education Code to establish new provisions regarding the suspension of public school students who engage in certain conduct against employees or volunteers of a school district. The bill mandates that a principal or appropriate administrator must suspend a student for actions taken on or off school property that are retaliatory or result from the individual's employment or association with the school district. Specifically, this includes conduct that meets the criteria of an offense under Section 22.01(a)(1) of the Penal Code or is otherwise deliberately violent and poses a threat to the health or safety of others. Additionally, the bill clarifies that existing provisions regarding student conduct do not apply to the newly defined conduct.

Furthermore, the bill introduces a provision that ensures compliance with federal law regarding the placement of students with disabilities who receive special education services, indicating that any suspension under this section that constitutes a change in placement must adhere to Section 37.004. The new regulations will take effect starting with the 2025-2026 school year, and the bill will become effective immediately if it receives a two-thirds majority vote in both houses; otherwise, it will take effect on September 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Education Code 37.005 (Education Code 37)