84R8195 JSL-D
 
  By: Burrows H.B. No. 1815
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a prohibition of school district retaliation against a
  teacher for permissible teaching about the Bible.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 21, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 21.012 to read as follows:
         Sec. 21.012.  RETALIATION BASED ON BIBLE INSTRUCTION
  PROHIBITED. (a) In this section, "employment action" means an
  action that affects an employee's compensation, promotion,
  demotion, transfer, work assignment, or performance evaluation.
         (b)  A school district may not suspend or terminate the
  employment of a teacher or take other adverse employment action
  against the teacher based on the teacher's instruction to students
  about the Bible if the instruction is provided in accordance with
  the United States Constitution, federal law, the Texas
  Constitution, and state law.
         (c)  A teacher whose employment is suspended or terminated or
  who is subjected to an adverse employment action in violation of
  this section is entitled to:
               (1)  reinstatement to the teacher's former position or
  an equivalent position;
               (2)  compensation for lost wages during the period of
  suspension, termination, or other adverse employment action;
               (3)  reinstatement of fringe benefits and seniority
  rights lost because of the suspension, termination, or other
  adverse employment action; and
               (4)  permanent removal of any retaliatory performance
  review from any personnel file maintained by the district regarding
  the teacher.
         SECTION 2.  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, 2015.