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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the establishment of the African American studies |
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advisory board by the State Board of Education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 28.019 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 28.019. AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES ADVISORY BOARD. (a) |
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In this section, "board" means the African American studies |
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advisory board. |
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(b) The State Board of Education shall establish and |
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maintain an African American studies advisory board for the purpose |
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of broadening the content in social studies, African American |
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studies, and any other identified courses to include citizenship, |
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culture, economics, science, technology, geography, and politics |
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as they relate to the history of African Americans. |
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(c) The board is composed of 15 members appointed by the |
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State Board of Education as follows: |
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(1) 10 members who are academic professionals with |
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expertise in African American studies and who have served to |
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actively educate the public on the impact of the enslavement era, |
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the contributions of African Americans to society, and racial |
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equity issues, including: |
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(A) five members who are: |
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(i) faculty and staff members representing |
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the African American studies departments of institutions of higher |
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education in this state; and |
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(ii) recommended by five different |
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institutions of higher education in this state, including: |
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(a) at least one member recommended by |
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a public junior college; |
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(b) one member recommended by Prairie |
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View A&M University's African American studies initiative; and |
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(c) one member recommended by Texas |
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Southern University's African American studies minor program; and |
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(B) five members who: |
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(i) represent school districts; and |
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(ii) are recommended by organizations that |
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represent practitioners, administrators, and school leaders, |
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including at least: |
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(a) one member recommended by the |
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Texas Alliance of Black School Educators; |
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(b) one member recommended by the |
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Texas Caucus of Black School Board Members; and |
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(c) one member recommended by the |
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Texas Association of Rural Schools; and |
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(2) five members who: |
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(A) represent public school students and |
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parents; |
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(B) include three current public school |
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students; and |
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(C) are recommended by education organizations, |
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including at least: |
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(i) one member recommended by a statewide |
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organization focused on research-based education policy; and |
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(ii) one member recommended by an advocacy |
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organization that works with parents of students. |
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(d) Not later than November 1 of each year, the State Board |
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of Education shall solicit and review recommendations and make |
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final appointments to the board in accordance with Subsection (c). |
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(e) Members of the board serve staggered two-year terms, |
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with the terms of five members expiring on December 1 of each year. |
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Members may be reappointed at the end of a term for up to four terms. |
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(f) The members of the board shall elect a presiding officer |
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for the board. The board shall hold meetings at the call of the |
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presiding officer. |
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(g) The board shall: |
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(1) advise and provide recommendations to the State |
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Board of Education and the agency on curriculum and guidance |
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related to African American history and culture; and |
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(2) review and propose changes to interdisciplinary |
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content that references African American history and culture, |
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including textbooks, for kindergarten through grade 12. |
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(h) Not later than December 1 of each year, the board shall |
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prepare and submit to the governor, the legislature, the agency, |
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and the State Board of Education a written report that includes: |
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(1) a summary of the board's work throughout the year; |
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(2) any information provided to the State Board of |
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Education and the agency under Subsection (g); and |
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(3) recommendations for legislative action. |
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(i) Section 2110.008, Government Code, does not apply to the |
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advisory board established under this section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2023, the African |
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American studies advisory board established under Section 28.019, |
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Education Code, as added by this Act, shall hold its first meeting. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |