88R8390 CXP-D

By: Shaheen H.B. No. 5126

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring public institutions of higher education to publish certain online resources.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.9747 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.9747. ONLINE PUBLIC RESOURCES. (a) In this section:

(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.

(2) "Training session" means a program, lecture, presentation, or directed group activity planned or presented by an institution of higher education for students, faculty, staff, or the public, whether mandatory or voluntary, for the purpose of coordinating behavior with certain standards or securing compliance with a certain message or purpose. The term includes any orientation program for new students, faculty, or staff and any training regarding topics surrounding race, gender, sexual identity, campus climate, or interpersonal relations.

(b) Each institution of higher education shall make available to prospective students, parents of prospective students, and other interested members of the public on the institution's Internet website:

(1) a syllabus portal;

(2) an employment information directory; and

(3) a training sessions database.

(c) The information made available under Subsection (b) must be:

(1) accessible from the institution's Internet website home page by the use of not more than three website links;

(2) searchable by keywords and phrases; and

(3) accessible to the public without requiring registration or use of a user name, password, or other form of user identification.

(d) The syllabus portal must include a single database containing the course syllabus for every classroom course offered for credit by the institution. A syllabus included in the portal:

(1) must comply with the requirements under Section 51.974(a)(1); and

(2) may exclude the time and location of class meetings.

(e) The employment information directory must be updated at least annually and include the following information for each employee or officer of the institution:

(1) name;

(2) department;

(3) tenure status;

(4) job title; and

(5) general job description.

(f) The state auditor shall audit each institution of higher education's employment information directory for compliance with this section and any other relevant provisions of law at least once every three years. This subsection does not affect the state auditor's authority to conduct an audit in accordance with Chapter 321, Government Code.

(g) The training sessions database must include a playable video recording or written transcript record of every training session the institution conducts for students, faculty, or staff. The recording or transcript must include the entirety of the training session, including any question and answer session, but may not include any personally identifying information of a student, faculty member, or staff member who participated in the training session but was not involved with the planning, coordination, or presentation of the training session.

(h) The governing board of each institution of higher education shall designate an administrator to be responsible for ensuring compliance with this section. The administrator may assign duties under this section to one or more administrative employees.

(i) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt rules necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date of this Act, each public institution of higher education shall comply with Section 51.9747, Education Code, as added by this Act.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2023.