| |
| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the repeal of the offense of homosexual conduct. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Section 21.06, Penal Code, is repealed. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 85.007(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
(b) The materials in the education programs intended for |
|
|
persons younger than 18 years of age must: |
|
|
(1) emphasize sexual abstinence before marriage and |
|
|
fidelity in marriage as the expected standard in terms of public |
|
|
health and the most effective ways to prevent HIV infection, |
|
|
sexually transmitted diseases, and unwanted pregnancies; and |
|
|
(2) state that homosexual conduct is not an acceptable |
|
|
lifestyle [and is a criminal offense under Section 21.06, Penal |
|
|
Code]. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Section 163.002, Health and Safety Code, is |
|
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 163.002. INSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS. Course materials and |
|
|
instruction relating to sexual education or sexually transmitted |
|
|
diseases should include: |
|
|
(1) an emphasis on sexual abstinence as the only |
|
|
completely reliable method of avoiding unwanted teenage pregnancy |
|
|
and sexually transmitted diseases; |
|
|
(2) an emphasis on the importance of self-control, |
|
|
responsibility, and ethical conduct in making decisions relating to |
|
|
sexual behavior; |
|
|
(3) statistics, based on the latest medical |
|
|
information, that indicate the efficacy of the various forms of |
|
|
contraception; |
|
|
(4) information concerning the laws relating to the |
|
|
financial responsibilities associated with pregnancy, childbirth, |
|
|
and child rearing; |
|
|
(5) information concerning the laws prohibiting |
|
|
sexual abuse and the legal and counseling options available to |
|
|
victims of sexual abuse; |
|
|
(6) information on how to cope with and rebuff |
|
|
unwanted physical and verbal sexual advances, as well as the |
|
|
importance of avoiding the sexual exploitation of other persons; |
|
|
(7) psychologically sound methods of resisting |
|
|
unwanted peer pressure; and |
|
|
(8) emphasis, provided in a factual manner and from a |
|
|
public health perspective, that homosexuality is not a lifestyle |
|
|
acceptable to the general public [and that homosexual conduct is a |
|
|
criminal offense under Section 21.06, Penal Code]. |
|
|
SECTION 4. 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, 2025. |