Preparing Your District for Texas House Bill 3

In recent years, ensuring the safety and security of students within K-12 schools has become a paramount concern. In response to this, various states have introduced legislation aimed at enhancing school safety measures. 

One notable example is House Bill 3 (HB 3), which was passed in the 88 Legislature of the Texas Senate. This bill is an effort to improve the measures for ensuring school safety. This includes funding opportunities for purchases of modern technology for security, as well as the requirement to have an armed officer on each campus. 

While the goal of the bill is to ensure a safer learning environment for students and school staff, there are implications that will have a direct impact on school district police departments that must be addressed. 

This article explores what HB 3 means for Texas Independent School Districts (ISD), and how your agency can best prepare. 

Key Provisions of HB 3 

HB 3 requires that all public districts and open-enrollment charter schools have at least one armed security officer on each campus. This can include a school district peace officer, a school resource officer, or a commissioned peace officer.  

The bill also outlines specific training and qualification requirements for school security officers. These individuals must undergo rigorous training, which includes crisis intervention, de-escalation techniques, firearm proficiency and collaboration with local law enforcement agencies.  

The training is designed to equip school officers with the skills necessary to respond to critical situations while minimizing risks to students and staff. 

There is a “good cause exception” clause within the bill that exempts school districts from this requirement if districts are unable to secure funding or hire qualified personnel. Alternatively, the district must develop a “standard” for the security officer qualifications that the school district’s board of trustees can agree upon. 

In addition to armed security officer requirements, there are also requirements for schools to conduct threat assessments and develop policies and procedures for emergency management. 

HB 3 makes certain resource allocations to help school districts comply with the new bill, one being regional resource centers developed by the Texas School Safety Center to aid in developing and implementing emergency operations, establishing a school safety and security committee, helping address deficiencies in campus security, and more.  

All districts are also to receive direct funding in the amount of $15,000 per campus and 28 cents per student for hiring staff and purchasing modern technology. 

The Implications of HB 3 

HB 3 gives schools the opportunity to address the concern of enhanced school safety. There are a number of incidents that have proven schools to be a vulnerable target for attack. 

The presence of armed officers, when properly trained and strategically placed, can act as a deterrent to potential threats and intruders. Their ability to respond swiftly to emergencies can contribute to a safer school environment, instilling a sense of security among students, parents and staff. 

In the same instance, the effectiveness of armed officers relies heavily on their training, experience and adherence to protocols. Regular training updates and accountability mechanisms are crucial to ensure that school security officers are prepared to handle evolving threats and respond appropriately in high-pressure situations. 

Funding and staffing challenges also persist with the requirements of the bill. Although there is some direct funding for districts, it’s simply not enough to pay staff and purchase new systems and technology. There is also the issue of hiring staff that meet the qualifications for an official armed security officer. 

Grant Guidance for HB 3 

While the bill provides direct funding for schools, the allocated amount does not cover all the costs to fully staff officers throughout districts, as well as making all the necessary technology investments. 

Additional funding opportunities through government grants and the Texas Education Agency (TEA) allow agencies to overcome some of the staffing and technology challenges.  

Here are some tips for your agency to prepare for upcoming grants for HB 3:  

1. Engage community partners and external stakeholders. Most funding opportunities for school safety and planning involve items like memorandums of understanding or letters of commitment and support from outside agencies – demonstrating some form of partnership with your local law enforcement agency. This can include a request for local school resource officers or a request for technology that expedites the agency’s response to school safety incidents. If you are not working with any other agencies or community partners, now is the time to start reaching out. Other partners like a mental health agency can also apply for funding that your organization may not be directly eligible to apply for. 
2. Loop in the internal stakeholders. Grants and technology investments for school districts require the superintendent’s approval. Establish a plan that details what the grant will be used for and the impact that it will have on increasing school safety. 
3. Gather Your School’s Data. Typically grants will require data on your schools and students including demographics, population size and financial information.  
4. Clearly identify and communicate the need. Most Competitive grant programs look for things that solve a clearly identified issue. You’ll want to gather data on school violence: physical fights or attacks, possession or use of weapons, possession/use/distribution of drugs, theft or larceny, and vandalism. You will need to speak to the current safety plan, risk assessments you’ve performed, current threat assessment policies and procedures, school climate and improvement efforts and training and drills you are implementing. There may also be a need for after-action reports. 

The important thing to remember is that most of the work for grant applications will take place before the application opens. The time for preparation starts now.  

Prepare Your Agency Today 

Texas HB3 represents a significant effort to address school safety by implementing requirements for armed officers in public schools. While the bill aims to enhance security and respond to potential threats, it also means that school districts must plan to shift their operations.  

As your partner in navigating this changing landscape, CentralSquare offers resources to help your organization prepare. You can learn more about resources and funding opportunities by watching our free webinar today.