Texas Senate advances bill to require superintendents report misconduct directly to law enforcement

The Senate Committee on Education K-16 convened on April 8, 2025, to discuss critical updates to Texas education law, particularly focusing on the reporting of misconduct involving staff and students. The meeting highlighted Senate Bill 1224, which aims to enhance the accountability of superintendents regarding allegations of romantic or abusive conduct.

The discussion began with an overview of the current requirements under the Texas education code, which mandates superintendents to report such misconduct to the Texas Education Agency (TEA). However, it was noted that superintendents are not obligated to report these allegations to law enforcement, often relying on internal investigations. This practice has raised concerns that some cases of abuse may not be thoroughly investigated, potentially allowing misconduct to go unaddressed.

Senate Bill 1224 seeks to amend this by requiring superintendents to report allegations of misconduct directly to municipal or county law enforcement. This change aligns with existing reporting statutes that apply to other entities mandated to report misconduct to the state. The proposed legislation also introduces penalties for superintendents who fail to report, including administrative fines ranging from $500 to $10,000 and the possibility of a state jail felony for not notifying law enforcement within 48 hours of learning about an incident.

During the meeting, Senator West raised a question regarding the applicability of the bill to private schools. It was clarified that the current legislation does not extend to private institutions, prompting further discussion on whether private schools should be held to similar standards as public schools. The committee acknowledged the need to explore this issue further.

In conclusion, the committee's discussions underscored a significant shift in how allegations of misconduct in educational settings may be handled in Texas. The proposed Senate Bill 1224 aims to strengthen reporting requirements and ensure that allegations are taken seriously, with the potential for further examination of private school regulations in future sessions.