80R9135 KKA-D

By: Davis of Dallas H.B. No. 2874

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishment of a state public school curriculum commission.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Chapter 7, Education Code, is amended by adding Subchapter E to read as follows: SUBCHAPTER E. CURRICULUM COMMISSION

Sec. 7.151. DEFINITION. In this subchapter, "commission" means the curriculum commission established under this subchapter.

Sec. 7.152. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS. The legislature finds that:

(1) during the period beginning late in the 15th century, millions of individuals of African origin were enslaved and brought to the western hemisphere, including this country, and between 20 and 50 percent of enslaved Africans died during the journey;

(2) the enslavement of the Africans and their descendants was part of a concerted effort of physical and psychological terrorism that deprived groups of people of African descent the opportunity to preserve many of their social, religious, political, and other customs;

(3) the vestiges of slavery, including laws, segregation, and other similar practices, and the legacy of slavery have pervaded the fabric of our society;

(4) in spite of this history, there are endless examples of the triumphs of African Americans and their significant contributions to the development of our country;

(5) everyone should know of and remember the human carnage and dehumanizing atrocities committed during the period of the African slave trade and slavery in America, and be aware of the vestiges of slavery in this country;

(6) it is in fact vital to educate our citizens on this history, the legacy of slavery, the sad history of racism in this country, and the principles of human rights and dignity in a civilized society;

(7) it is the policy of this state that the history of the African slave trade and slavery in America, the depth of the impact of slavery on our society, and the triumphs of African Americans and their significant contributions to the development of this state and country are proper concerns of all people, particularly students enrolled in the public schools of this state; and

(8) the establishment of a state curriculum commission will ensure that this state, on a continuous basis:

(A) surveys, designs, encourages, and promotes the implementation of education and awareness programs in this state concerned with the African slave trade, slavery in America, the vestiges of slavery in this country, and the contributions of African Americans in building our state and country; and

(B) develops workshops, institutes, seminars, and other teacher training activities designed to educate teachers on this subject matter, and coordinates events on a regular basis throughout this state that provide appropriate commemoration of the events concerning the enslavement of Africans and their descendants in this country as well as their struggle for freedom and liberty.

Sec. 7.153. COMPOSITION. (a) The commission consists of:

(1) the following persons, serving ex officio:

(A) the secretary of state, or a person designated by the secretary of state;

(B) the commissioner, or a person designated by the commissioner;

(C) the governor's chief of staff or another member of the governor's executive staff designated by the governor; and

(D) two members of the board, as designated by the board, with a priority given to the selection of any members of the board who are African American; and

(2) 12 public members, appointed as follows:

(A) four members appointed by the governor, with not more than two of those members associated with any one political party;

(B) one member appointed by the lieutenant governor;

(C) one member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; and

(D) three additional members appointed by the lieutenant governor and three additional members appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, from a list of persons recommended by the Texas Legislative Black Caucus.

(b) In order to be eligible for appointment as a public member, a person must:

(1) be a resident of this state; and

(2) demonstrate an interest in the history of the African slave trade and slavery in this country and the contribution of African Americans to our society.

(c) Appointments of public members to the commission must reflect the ethnic diversity of this state and provide for representation of the various geographical areas of this state.

Sec. 7.154. TERMS. (a) Public members serve two-year staggered terms, with the terms of six members expiring February 1 of each year.

(b) A public member may serve more than one term.

Sec. 7.155. OFFICERS. The secretary of state, or the person designated to serve on the commission by the secretary of state, serves as the chair of the commission. The commissioner, or the person designated to serve on the commission by the commissioner, serves as the vice chair of the commission.

Sec. 7.156. COMPENSATION. (a) A public member of the commission may not receive compensation for serving on the commission but is entitled to reimbursement for reasonable and necessary travel expenses incurred by the member while conducting the business of the commission, as provided by the General Appropriations Act.

(b) Service on the commission by a state officer or employee is an additional duty of the member's office or employment.

Sec. 7.157. DUTIES. The commission shall:

(1) provide, based on the collective interest of the members and the knowledge and experience of the commission's staff and consultants, assistance and advice to public and private schools in this state regarding education awareness programs, textbooks, and educational materials concerned with the African slave trade, slavery in America, the vestiges of slavery in this country, and the contributions of African Americans to our society;

(2) survey and catalog the extent and breadth of education concerning the African slave trade, slavery in America, the vestiges of slavery in this country, and the contributions of African Americans to our society presently being incorporated into the curricula and textbooks and taught in the public schools of this state, and inventory memorials, exhibits, and resources relating to the African slave trade, American slavery, or relevant African American history that should be incorporated into courses of study at educational institutions and schools throughout this state;

(3) assist the secretary of state, the agency, and other appropriate state agencies in the development and implementation of African slave trade, American slavery, and African American history education programs;

(4) act as a liaison with textbook publishers, public and nonpublic schools, public and private nonprofit resource organizations, and members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives and the Texas Senate and House of Representatives in order to facilitate the inclusion of the history of African slavery and of African Americans in the United States in the curricula of public and private schools;

(5) compile a roster of individual volunteers who are willing to share their knowledge and experience in classrooms, seminars, and workshops with students and teachers on the subject of the African slave trade, American slavery and the impact of slavery on our society today, and the contributions of African Americans to our society;

(6) coordinate events memorializing the African slave trade, American slavery, and the history of African Americans in this country that reflect the contributions of African Americans in overcoming the burdens of slavery and its vestiges, and seek volunteers who are willing and able to participate in commemorative events that will enhance student awareness of the significance of African slavery, its historical impact, and the struggle for freedom;

(7) prepare reports for the governor and the legislature regarding the commission's findings and recommendations on facilitating the inclusion of African slave trade, American slavery studies, and African American history and special programs in the educational system of this state; and

(8) develop, in consultation with the agency and the board, curriculum guidelines for the teaching of information on the African slave trade, slavery in America, the vestiges of slavery in this country, and the contributions of African Americans to our society.

Sec. 7.158. AGENCY SUPPORT. (a) The Texas Historical Commission shall provide administrative support and resources as necessary for the curriculum commission to perform its duties.

(b) The agency shall assist the curriculum commission by:

(1) distributing educational information and materials to public schools in this state on the African slave trade, slavery in this country, the vestiges of slavery in this country, and the contributions of African Americans to our society;

(2) monitoring the inclusion of information and materials described by Subdivision (1) in the curriculum used in the public schools of this state;

(3) consulting with the commission on methods for surveying, cataloging, and extending the degree to which information and materials described by Subdivision (1) are included in the curriculum required to be taught in the public schools of this state; and

(4) conducting at least one teacher workshop each year on providing instruction regarding the African slave trade, slavery in this country, the vestiges of slavery in this country, and the contributions of African Americans to our society.

SECTION 2. In appointing the initial public members of the curriculum commission established under Subchapter E, Chapter 7, Education Code, as added by this Act:

(1) the governor shall appoint two members to serve terms expiring February 1, 2008, and two members to serve terms expiring February 1, 2009;

(2) the lieutenant governor shall appoint two members to serve terms expiring February 1, 2008, and two members to serve terms expiring February 1, 2009; and

(3) the speaker of the house of representatives shall appoint two members to serve terms expiring February 1, 2008, and two members to serve terms expiring February 1, 2009.

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, 2007.