Texas Register Table of Contents
Texas Education Agency
Proposed Rules Re:
Proposing new 19 TAC §103.1217, to implement House Bill 121 (89th Legislature) by establishing safety protocols for extracurricular activities, including requirements for multihazard emergency operations plans, event security staffing, adverse weather planning, communication systems, crowd control, evacuation plans, AED availability, injury protocols, and risk assessments for events occurring on property owned, leased, or controlled by a school system.
CHAPTER 103. HEALTH AND SAFETY
SUBCHAPTER CC. COMMISSIONER’S RULES CONCERNING SAFE SCHOOLS
19 TAC §103.1217
OVERVIEW
The Texas Education Agency (TEA) proposes new §103.1217, concerning safety during extracurricular activities. The proposed new section would establish safety protocols for extracurricular activities to implement Texas Education Code (TEC), §37.108(f)(8), as amended by House Bill (HB) 121, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Proposed new §103.1217 would detail provisions to ensure the safety of students, staff, and spectators during extracurricular activities, in accordance with TEC, §37.108(f)(8), as amended by HB 121, 89th Texas Legislature, Regular Session, 2025.
SECTION-BY-SECTION SUMMARY
Proposed new subsection (a) defines “extracurricular activity” (including large events such as graduation and prom), “rivalry event,” and “school system” as those terms are used in the section.
Proposed new subsection (b) requires school systems to adopt and implement multihazard emergency operations plans and certify that written plans are reviewed, amended, and retained to ensure safety during extracurricular activities occurring on property owned, leased, or otherwise under the control of a school system. Written plans must be submitted to TEA upon request.
Proposed new subsection (c) specifies what each school system’s written plan must include when addressing extracurricular activities. Required elements include: adverse weather protocols identifying temporary shelter or evacuation measures; communication channels between school administration, coaches, emergency services, and law enforcement, including a communication device on site capable of contacting medical services and law enforcement; parental notification policies for violent incidents at extracurricular events; crowd control measures; designation of an on-site incident commander; on-site readiness checks and maintenance of emergency equipment, including that an automated external defibrillator (AED) must be available and accessible at all practices and events and inspected monthly; evacuation routes and assembly points; event security requirements, including at least one uniformed peace officer per 750 attendees at events exceeding 500 attendees, and appropriate peace officer coverage for rivalry events or events with a propensity for violence; injury protocol coordination with local first responders; patron ejection authority for referees and school administrators; pre-event risk assessments; and written security and medical plans for each event location exceeding 250 attendees.
Proposed new subsection (d) requires school systems to submit information about incidents requiring an emergency response, including the discovery of a firearm at a school-sponsored activity, to TEA through the Sentinel reporting system in accordance with TEC, §37.1083(h)(1).
Department of Family and Protective Services
Proposed Rules Re:
CHAPTER 700. CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES
SUBCHAPTER M. SUBSTITUTE-CARE SERVICES
DIVISION 1. GENERAL
40 TAC §700.1335
OVERVIEW
The Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) proposes to amend rules in Title 40, Texas Administrative Code (TAC), Chapter 700, Subchapter M, relating to the Treatment Foster Family Care (TFFC) Program.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Treatment Foster Family Care (TFFC) program is a placement option for children with mental and/or social behavioral needs that cannot be met in traditional foster care settings. TFFC is designed to provide innovative, multi-disciplinary treatment services to children in a highly structured family home environment and is a cost-effective alternative to congregate residential treatment. To qualify, a child must be 17 years old or younger and either placed in or recommended for an RTC, or placed in or at risk of psychiatric hospitalization due to a diagnosed emotional disorder. A child’s TFFC placement cannot exceed nine months, except for one three-month extension.
Current §700.1335(c)(2) limits a foster home’s capacity to no more than two foster children at one time. DFPS now believes there are limited circumstances where children would benefit from being in a TFFC home with more than two foster children: respite care and babysitting for other TFFC foster parents; keeping siblings together; and placement into kinship TFFC homes.
SECTION-BY-SECTION SUMMARY
The proposed amendment to §700.1335(c)(2) adds an exception allowing a TFFC home to temporarily exceed the two-foster-child limit when providing respite or babysitting services to additional children from another TFFC home, as those terms are defined and limited under 26 TAC Chapter 749.
New subsection (e) creates a DFPS waiver process allowing more than two foster children in a TFFC home in the following circumstances: when placement is necessary to keep siblings together; when placement is into a verified kinship TFFC home; or when DFPS determines that an exception is needed to address other child-specific needs to maintain quality of care.
Texas Department of State Health Services
In Addition Re:
Licensing Actions for Radioactive Materials
For more information, please visit this week’s edition of the Texas Register at 51 Tex Reg 2529-2533.