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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the purpose of public institutions of higher education |
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and a prohibition on compelling students enrolled at those |
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institutions to adopt certain beliefs. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 3, Education Code, is amended |
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by adding Chapter 50 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 50. HIGHER EDUCATION PURPOSE |
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Sec. 50.001. HIGHER EDUCATION PURPOSE. A public |
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institution of higher education must be committed to creating an |
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environment of: |
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(1) intellectual inquiry and academic freedom so that |
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all students are equipped for participation in the workforce and |
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the betterment of society; and |
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(2) intellectual diversity so that all students are |
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respected and educated regardless of race, sex, or ethnicity or |
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social, political, or religious background or belief. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.982 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.982. PROHIBITION ON COMPELLING CERTAIN |
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BELIEFS. (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" |
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has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) A faculty member of an institution of higher education |
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may not compel or attempt to compel a student enrolled at the |
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institution to adopt a belief that any race, sex, or ethnicity or |
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social, political, or religious belief is inherently superior to |
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any other race, sex, ethnicity, or belief. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |