79R7572 KKA-D

By:  Coleman                                                      H.B. No. 3205



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to depictions of gender and ethnicity in textbooks used in 
the public schools.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 31.023(b), Education Code, is amended to 
read as follows:
	(b)  Each textbook on a conforming or nonconforming list 
must:        
		(1)  be free from factual errors; and                           
		(2)  depict, in any text, illustrations, or 
photographs, individuals of different genders and ethnicities in a 
nondiscriminatory manner that:
			(A)  reflects the demographic characteristics of 
this state; or     
			(B)  in the case of a history textbook, reflects 
the demographic characteristics of the time and place covered by 
the text.
	SECTION 2.  Section 31.023(b), Education Code, as amended by 
this Act, applies only to the adoption of a textbook for which the 
State Board of Education publishes notice of the review and 
adoption cycle on or after the effective date of this Act.  The 
adoption of a textbook for which the State Board of Education 
publishes notice of the review and adoption cycle before the 
effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the 
date the board publishes notice of the review and adoption cycle, 
and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  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, 2005.