78R10228 BDH-F


By:  Howard, Madden, Heflin, Talton, et al.                       H.B. No. 1447

Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1447:                                   

By:  Griggs                                                   C.S.H.B. No. 1447



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of the State Board of Education regarding 
public school curriculum and textbooks.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 31.023, Education Code, is amended by 
amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as 
follows:
	(b)  Each textbook on a conforming or nonconforming list 
must:        
		(1)  be free from factual errors, including errors of 
commission or omission related to viewpoint discrimination or 
special interest advocacy on major issues, as determined by the 
State Board of Education; and
		(2)  comply with textbook content guidelines adopted by 
the board under Subsection (c).
	(c)  The State Board of Education shall by rule adopt 
guidelines that define general textbook content standards under 
this subchapter, including standards related to curriculum 
requirements under Section 28.002.  Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the State Board of Education has sole and 
unlimited authority to determine textbook content under this 
subchapter and curriculum requirements under Section 28.002.  The 
board may reject any textbook that contains factual or other errors 
or that does not comply with the textbook content standards adopted 
under this subsection.
	SECTION 2.  Section 31.023, Education Code, as amended by 
this Act, applies only to textbooks adopted by the State Board of 
Education on or after September 1, 2004.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.