By Wilson                                              H.B. No. 232

      75R1936 JSA-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the Multiculturism Curriculum Task Force.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  (a)  The Multiculturism Curriculum Task Force is

 1-5     established.  The task force is composed of five members appointed

 1-6     by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate.  To be

 1-7     eligible for appointment to the task force, a person must have a

 1-8     demonstrated interest in education.

 1-9           (b)  The governor shall appoint the members of the task force

1-10     not later than September 1, 1997, and shall designate a member to

1-11     serve as the presiding officer of the task force.

1-12           (c)  A member of the task force may not receive compensation

1-13     for the member's service on the task force but is entitled to

1-14     reimbursement for actual and necessary expenses from funds

1-15     available for that purpose.

1-16           (d)  The office of the governor, the Texas Education Agency,

1-17     and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall provide

1-18     staff support and other assistance to the task force as necessary

1-19     to discharge the task force's duties.

1-20           (e)  The task force shall propose a multicultural curriculum

1-21     for institutions of higher education and for primary and secondary

1-22     schools.  The curriculum must include ethnic and racial studies,

1-23     women's issues, and affirmative action issues.

1-24           (f)  Not later than September 1, 1998, the task force shall

 2-1     submit a written report of its recommended curriculum to the

 2-2     governor, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house, the

 2-3     commissioner of education, and the commissioner of higher

 2-4     education.

 2-5           SECTION 2.  This Act expires January 1, 1999.

 2-6           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-7     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-8     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-9     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-10     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,

2-11     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its

2-12     passage, and it is so enacted.