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Texas school police chiefs urge restoring citation authority as tool, not mandate
Summary
Two Texas school police chiefs told the Senate Education Committee that restoring authority to issue class C citations for school-related misconduct would give officers a discretionary tool to address disruptive conduct and support families, while they and education advocates said guarantees and guardrails are needed to prevent overuse.
A pair of Texas school police leaders told the Senate Education Committee that restoring authority for school-based officers to issue class C citations would return a discretionary, de‑escalation tool and help families feel their complaints are taken seriously.
The chiefs — Bill Avra, chief of police for Jacksonville Independent School District and president of the Texas School District Police Chiefs Association, and Jeffrey Foley, chief of police for Midway ISD and past president of the Texas Association of School Resource Officers — testified in support of committee substitute Senate Bill 19 24.
Avra told the panel that his members “believe that it has been about, since 2013 that we had lost the ability to issue citations,” and said officers need a limited option that is “not the go‑to” response for classroom incidents. Foley said issuing a citation “would never be the first option,” but that having the option allows officers to use their training and judgement when appropriate. Both described citation authority as a last resort that can sometimes prevent escalation or satisfy a parent who wants an official action taken.
Committee members and several witnesses pressed for safeguards. Senator Menendez asked whether an issuing option could be used too widely; Celled Avra and Foley both said training and local policy must limit use. Avra stressed Texas law already curbs certain criminal processes for minors: “we can't even get a class C warrant for [children under 17],” and he described other legal limits that shape how citations are handled.
Education stakeholders who testified elsewhere in the hearing urged caution. Disability Rights Texas, IDRA and advocacy groups warned the bills under consideration could disproportionately affect students with disabilities and urged stronger behavioral supports, training and due‑process protections before any authority to remove or criminalize students is expanded.
What’s next: The committee heard the testimony but did not take a final vote on the citation measure during this session. Proponents said they are willing to work with legislators on technical changes and guardrails.
Sources and context: Public testimony before the Senate Committee on Education, May 20, 2025; testimony by Chief Bill Avra and Chief Jeffrey Foley.
