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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an investigation by the Department of Public Safety |
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into the response by certain public and private institutions of |
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higher education to reports of sexual assault at those |
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institutions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 411.952 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.952. INVESTIGATION AND REPORT ON SEXUAL ASSAULT AT |
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POSTSECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. (a) In this section, |
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"postsecondary educational institution" means an institution of |
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higher education or a private or independent institution of higher |
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education, as those terms are defined by Section 61.003, Education |
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Code. |
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(b) Using funds already appropriated, the Department of |
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Public Safety shall collect information regarding the response by |
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public institutions of higher education, and private institutions |
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of higher education that receive tuition equalization grants, to |
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reports of sexual assault committed against students enrolled at |
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those institutions. The investigation must include a review of |
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policies adopted by those institutions that have the effect of |
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deterring students from reporting incidents of sexual assault or of |
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hindering investigations of those reports. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2018, the department shall |
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submit to the legislature and the Texas Higher Education |
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Coordinating Board a report on the department's findings. Based on |
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the department's report, the coordinating board shall review the |
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policies adopted by those institutions that have the effect of |
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deterring students from reporting those incidents or of hindering |
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investigations of those reports. |
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(d) This section expires September 1, 2019. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |