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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prohibiting the denial of public benefits for certain |
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students enrolled in a private school operated by a religious |
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organization or providing religious instruction. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 1, Education Code, is amended by adding |
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Section 1.0021 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1.0021. DENIAL OF PUBLIC BENEFIT PROHIBITED. (a) In |
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this section, "private school" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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5.001. |
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(b) Notwithstanding any provision of state or federal law to |
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the contrary and in accordance with Carson v. Makin, 142 S. Ct. 1987 |
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(2022), a public benefit provided under Title 2 of this code that is |
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made available to a student enrolled in a private school may not be |
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denied by the state, a political subdivision of the state, a state |
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agency, or any educational institution solely because that private |
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school is operated by a religious institution or otherwise provides |
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a religious curriculum or a religion-based course of instruction. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |