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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to social studies curriculum in public schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Sections 28.002(h-3) and (h-5), Education Code, |
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as effective September 1, 2021, are amended to read as follows: |
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(h-3) For any social studies course in the required |
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curriculum: |
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(1) a teacher may not be compelled to discuss a |
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particular current event or widely debated and currently |
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controversial issue of public policy or social affairs; |
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(2) a teacher who chooses to discuss a topic described |
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by Subdivision (1) shall, to the best of the teacher's ability, |
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strive to explore the topic from diverse and contending |
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perspectives without giving deference to any one perspective; and |
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(3) [a school district, open-enrollment charter |
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school, or teacher may not require, make part of a course, or award |
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a grade or course credit, including extra credit, for a student's: |
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[(A) political activism, lobbying, or efforts to |
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persuade members of the legislative or executive branch at the |
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federal, state, or local level to take specific actions by direct |
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communication; or |
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[(B) participation in any internship, practicum, |
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or similar activity involving social or public policy advocacy; and |
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[(4)] a teacher, administrator, or other employee of a |
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state agency, school district, or open-enrollment charter school |
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may not: |
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(A) be required to engage in training, |
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orientation, or therapy that presents any form of race or sex |
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stereotyping or blame on the basis of race or sex; |
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(B) require or make part of a course the concept |
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that: |
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(i) one race or sex is inherently superior |
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to another race or sex; |
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(ii) an individual, by virtue of the |
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individual's race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or |
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oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously; |
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(iii) an individual should be discriminated |
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against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of |
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the individual's race; |
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(iv) members of one race or sex cannot and |
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should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex; |
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(v) an individual's moral character, |
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standing, or worth is necessarily determined by the individual's |
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race or sex; |
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(vi) an individual, by virtue of the |
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individual's race or sex, bears responsibility for actions |
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committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex; |
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(vii) an individual should feel discomfort, |
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guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on |
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account of the individual's race or sex; |
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(viii) meritocracy or traits such as a hard |
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work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a |
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particular race to oppress members of another race; |
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(ix) the advent of slavery in the territory |
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that is now the United States constituted the true founding of the |
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United States; or |
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(x) with respect to their relationship to |
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American values, slavery and racism are anything other than |
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deviations from, betrayals of, or failures to live up to, the |
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authentic founding principles of the United States, which include |
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liberty and equality; and |
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(C) require an understanding of the [The] 1619 |
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Project. |
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(h-5) A school district or open-enrollment charter school |
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may not implement, interpret, or enforce any rules or student code |
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of conduct in a manner that would result in the punishment of a |
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student for discussing, or have a chilling effect on student |
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discussion of, the concepts described by Subsection (h-3)(3) |
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[(h-3)(4)]. |
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SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022 |
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school year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021, if it |
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receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each |
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house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for effect on that |
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date, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |