Texas Senate Bill 12, which took effect Sept. 1, introduced changes requiring LISD to make adjustments to student health services, parental consent procedures and campus safety policies. 

While the legislation does not alter the fundamental duties of district staff, it adds administrative and operational requirements for nurses, counselors, teachers, and administrators across the district.

SB 12 was passed during the 89th Texas Legislative Session as part of a broader effort to increase parental involvement and strengthen oversight of student well-being. The law establishes new requirements for how school districts must handle issues related to student health, communication with parents and campus safety procedures.

After each legislative session, district staff work closely with the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and legal counsel to ensure compliance, specifically using updated guidance from the TEA to help implement new laws. According to the TEA, school districts must notify the parent in any change in services provided to a student regarding the student’s mental, emotional, or physical health and well-being. 

Though she said SB 12 does not specifically change her day-to-day duties, LISD Superintendent Dr. Lori Rapp emphasized that it is her responsibility to ensure the district implements the new legislation.

“While legislation passed does not change my job as superintendent, it is my responsibility to guide our organization in the implementation of legislation,” Rapp said. 

Privacy and Consent

One of the law’s most visible effects is on student health services. SB 12 requires parental consent before students can receive health-related services, including mental, emotional and physical health care. 

Kari Smith, a board-certified registered nurse at Marcus, described how the consent requirement affects daily operations. 

“It makes it a little more difficult if a parent hasn’t consented,” Smith said. “When a student makes an appointment, we have to get in touch with the parent first. If a parent isn’t reachable, we can still see a student and offer them treatment, but it prevents us from providing very specific, long term treatment options for some students.”

Despite the added requirements, any adult staff member can still provide first aid without parent consent. This ensures that urgent student needs can still be addressed immediately, even if parental contact is delayed.

SB 12 has also increased documentation responsibilities for school nurses and counselors. Nurses must now record every parent contact related to consent. 

“We have to document when we notify parents so they can sign the consent and put more things onto a student’s chart,” Smith said.

Additionally, the legislation impacts how staff communicate with parents. Previously, nurses could call parents on students’ cellphones if other contact methods failed, but new restrictions now prevent this. 

“There are new policies that we have to abide by,” Smith said. “For instance, students cannot use cellphones in the clinic. Previously, we’ve been able to get in touch with parents on students’ cell phones if they’re not answering the regular phone calls. We cannot do that this year, those procedures are still new for us here.” 

While Marcus has updated contact information for most families, other campuses have more difficulty in reaching parents due to spam filters, blocked numbers or outdated records.

Informing and Enforcement

Beyond health services, SB 12 has influenced district-wide policies regarding student safety and supervision. While it does not specifically mandate measures like metal detectors, it requires districts to review security policies, visitor protocols, and emergency preparedness. 

“Any legislation that is passed and becomes education law for the state of Texas must be followed by educators,” Rapp said. “Any violations of any law can result in employment action.”

Smith noted that TEA has been slow to release guidelines, which has made implementation of the law more complex. 

“The TEA has been slow on releasing their interpretation of the laws, which does make it a little more complicated for us to enforce the laws or follow them when there aren’t guidelines yet,” Smith said. “Even though most of them have been released, they’ve had to make changes in the last two weeks.”

The district has also worked to educate staff and families about the new requirements. In her September newsletter, Rapp provided a website detailing parent rights and posted the required TEA documents online. She emphasized that keeping families informed is essential: parents, students, and staff must understand their responsibilities and how policies will affect student services.

Rapp encourages parents, staff and students to engage with their state representatives and senators regarding new legislation contained in House Resolutions and Senate Bills.

“Whether it is H.R. 1481 related to cell phones, SB 12, or H.R. 8 related to assessment and accountability, many laws passed each legislative session have an impact on schools, which is why I always encourage our community to engage with their state elected officials,” Rapp said.

While SB 12 has put more protocols in place, it has not prevented nurses, counselors, or other employees from delivering care or maintaining a safe environment for students. Staff continue to provide physical care, monitor mental health needs and ensure that students’ educational experience is not interrupted by administrative changes.

LISD is using staff feedback, TEA guidance and community input to refine internal procedures enhancing communication with families, and ensuring compliance with state law. 

By sufficiently preparing staff in advance and providing clear instructions on documentation, consent and student care, LISD aims to avoid gaps in services and maintain consistency across campuses. 

Rapp highlighted that communication is a critical tool for success. 

“As guidance is released and updated, we make any changes that are necessary and communicate them as appropriate,” Rapp said. “It is our responsibility to ensure students are safe, supported, and that our staff have the tools they need to implement these laws effectively.”