SB1447 - Relating to standards adopted by the Texas Education Agency regarding the use of electronic devices and software applications by public schools.

      By: Menéndez, et al. S.B. No. 1447     (Bernal)           A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to standards adopted by the Texas Education Agency   regarding the use of electronic devices and software applications   by public schools.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 32.1021, Education Code, is amended to   read as follows:          Sec. 32.1021.  STANDARDS.  The agency shall adopt standards   for permissible electronic devices and software applications used   by a school district or open-enrollment charter school.  In   adopting the standards, the agency must:                (1)  minimize data collection conducted on students   through electronic devices and software applications;                (2)  ensure direct and informed parental consent is   required for a student's use of a software application, other than a   software application necessary for the administration of:                      (A)  an assessment instrument under Subchapter B,   Chapter 39; or                      (B)  an assessment relating to college, career, or   military readiness for which student performance is considered in   evaluating a school district's performance under Section 39.054;                (3)  ensure software applications do not conduct mental   health assessments or other assessments unrelated to educational   curricula that are intended to collect information about students   without direct and informed parental consent;                (4)  ensure that parents are provided the resources   necessary to understand cybersecurity risks and online safety   regarding their child's use of electronic devices before the child   uses an electronic device at the child's school;                (5)  specify periods of time during which an electronic   device transferred to a student must be deactivated in the interest   of student safety;                (6)  consider necessary adjustments by age level to the   use of electronic devices in the classroom to foster development of   students' abilities regarding spending school time and completing   assignments without the use of an electronic device;                (7)  consider appropriate restrictions on student   access to social media websites or applications with an electronic   device transferred to a student by a district or school;                 (8)     provide for exceptions to the standards to allow a   student with a disability, in accordance with an individualized   education program developed by the student's admission, review, and   dismissal committee under Section 29.005 or a plan developed by a   team established for the student under Section 504, Rehabilitation   Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. Section 794), to use as a reasonable   accommodation or assistive technology electronic devices or   software applications that otherwise might not be permissible under   the standards;                 (9)  [ (8) ]  require a district or school, before using a   social media application for an educational purpose, to determine   that an alternative application that is more secure and provides   the same educational functionality as the social media application   is unavailable for that educational purpose;                 (10)  [ (9) ]  consider the required use of an Internet   filter capable of notifying appropriate school administrators, who   are then required to notify the student's parent, if a student   accesses inappropriate or concerning content or words, including   content related to:                      (A)  self-harm;                      (B)  suicide;                      (C)  violence to others; or                      (D)  illicit drugs;                 (11)  [ (10) ]  assign to the appropriate officer of a   district or school the duty to receive complaints or concerns   regarding student use of electronic devices, including   cybersecurity and online safety concerns, from district or school   staff, other students, or parents; and                 (12)  [ (11) ]  provide methods by which a district or   school may ensure an operator, as that term is defined by Section   32.151, that contracts with the district or school to provide   software applications complies with Subchapter D.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   school year.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2025.