Texas Proposes Bill to Give Teachers $25,000 if They Carry a Gun on School Premises

Texas has proposed a new bill to enhance school safety and emergencies in public schools by providing financial incentives to teachers who carry guns on school premises. The bill aims to improve school security measures and ensure the safety of students and teachers.

The bill, titled “An Act Relating to Training, Preparedness, and Funding for School Safety and Emergencies in Public Schools,” proposes that teachers who regularly interact with students and carry guns on school premises should receive a $25,000 stipend. This program will be part of the “School Sentinel Program” that authorizes the presence of a school sentinel who is permitted to carry or possess a weapon for the purpose of providing safety and security.

The school sentinel program requires a school district or open-enrollment charter school to establish a written regulation or authorization that authorizes the presence of a school sentinel on school premises. The regulation or authorization must also require the sentinel to complete a school sentinel training program approved by the agency.

The bill states: “A school district or open-enrollment charter school employee is entitled to a stipend in an amount determined by the commissioner of not more than $25,000 per school year that the employee serves as a school sentinel after completing the training program required by this section. A stipend received under this subsection is not considered a part of the employee’s compensation, including for purposes of determining whether a school district is paying an employee the minimum monthly salary.”

(2/3) In light of the tragedies that have occurred in Texas schools over the past years, HB 13 allows districts to create a safety plan that works best for their local community while ensuring a minimum standard for all.

— Ken King (@KingForTexas) April 25, 2023

(3/3) While HB 13 cannot undo the tragedies that have happened, I believe this legislation will implement what we have learned in the aftermath of these events and help prevent them in the future.

— Ken King (@KingForTexas) April 25, 2023

The proposed bill will also require school district employees who regularly interact with students to complete an evidence-based mental health first aid training program designed to recognize and support children and youth who experience a mental health or substance use issue that may pose a threat to school safety.

In addition, the bill proposes Fentanyl Poisoning Awareness Week in public schools, where students will receive age-appropriate instruction on the prevention of the abuse of and addiction to fentanyl.

The proposal has been well-received by many Texans who believe that it will improve school safety measures and deter potential threats to school premises. However, opponents of the bill have expressed concerns about the potential dangers of teachers carrying guns on school premises and the risks that this may pose to students and staff.

The remainder of the bill outlines provisions related to school safety. It requires the Texas School Safety Center or the agency to establish and publish a directory of approved vendors for school safety technology and equipment. If a school district uses funds allocated for purchasing technology or equipment from a vendor not included in the directory, the district must solicit bids from at least three vendors before completing the purchase.

The proposal aims to establish a State School Safety Fund, which can only be used to provide grants to school districts and open-enrollment charter schools for enhancing school safety. The commissioner is responsible for establishing the school safety grant program, which provides reimbursement for school safety plans approved by the agency. The commissioner may award grants each school year in an amount not exceeding $10 million to a school district or open-enrollment charter school and up to $500 million in total grants per year.

The Act applies starting from the 2023-2024 school year, except for mental health first aid training, which must be implemented immediately.