School Safety Law Toolkit

Senate Bill 838

Effective Date: Beginning with the 2025-2026 school year

Each school district and open-enrollment charter school shall provide each classroom in the district or school with silent panic alert technology that allows for immediate contact with district or school emergency services and emergency services agencies, law enforcement agencies, health departments, and fire departments.

Silent panic alert technology provided by a school district or open-enrollment charter school under this section does not satisfy the requirement under Texas Education Code 37.108(a)(2) for the district or school to ensure employees have classroom access to a telephone or another electronic communication device.

To comply with this section, a school district or open-enrollment charter school may:

  • use funds provided to the district or school through the school safety allotment under Texas Education Code 48.115 or other available funds; and
  • use the district's or school's customary procurement process.

Texas Education Code 37.108(a)(2) Texas Education Code 37.117 Texas Education Code 48.115

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