By Wilson                                              H.B. No. 893
         76R3422 JSA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to prohibiting certain conduct by employees of
 1-3     institutions of higher education that may cause harm to students.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 51.943 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 51.943.  PROHIBITION OF CONDUCT ABUSIVE TO STUDENTS.
 1-8     (a)  In this section, "institution of higher education" has the
 1-9     meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
1-10           (b)  The purpose of this section is to ensure:
1-11                 (1)  the fair and equitable treatment of students of
1-12     institutions of higher education; and
1-13                 (2)  that those students are free to pursue their
1-14     academic studies free from undue psychological or mental abuse or
1-15     harassment.
1-16           (c)  A person employed by an institution of higher education
1-17     may not, in connection with the person's employment or on property
1-18     of the institution that employs the person, engage in any conduct
1-19     or behavior:
1-20                 (1)  that a reasonable person would believe is likely
1-21     to cause psychological or mental harm to a student of an
1-22     institution of higher education; or
1-23                 (2)  with the intent to cause psychological or mental
1-24     harm to a student of the institution that employs the person.
 2-1           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
 2-2           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-3     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-4     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-5     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-6     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.