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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to procedures to resolve complaints against faculty |
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members at institutions of higher education. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.9601 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9601. PROCEDURES TO RESOLVE COMPLAINTS AGAINST |
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FACULTY MEMBERS. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Faculty member" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 51.960. |
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(2) "Governing board" and "institution of higher |
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education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003. |
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(b) The governing board of each institution of higher |
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education shall establish and disseminate formal procedures for |
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resolving complaints filed against faculty members at the |
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institution. |
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(c) The complaint procedures must be designed to protect the |
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rights of faculty members and must provide for: |
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(1) a written form for filing a complaint against a |
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faculty member; |
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(2) a written explanation of the procedures, attached |
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to the form described by Subdivision (1); |
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(3) deadlines that permit a faculty member adequate |
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time to gather and organize documentation and prepare for any |
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hearing or other proceedings on a filed complaint; |
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(4) an impartial decision-making body composed of |
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peers of the faculty member; and |
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(5) an appeals process that permits a faculty member |
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to contest an adverse decision. |
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SECTION 2. The governing board of an institution of higher |
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education shall adopt the complaint procedures required by Section |
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51.9601, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than |
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December 31, 2013. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |