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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to requiring certain public and private institutions of |
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higher education to provide students and employees an option to |
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electronically report certain offenses to the institution. |
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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 51.9365 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9365. ELECTRONIC REPORTING OPTION FOR CERTAIN |
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OFFENSES. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Family violence" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 71.004, Family Code. |
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(2) "Postsecondary educational institution" means an |
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institution of higher education or a private or independent |
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institution of higher education, as those terms are defined by |
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Section 61.003, Education Code. |
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(b) Each postsecondary educational institution shall |
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provide an option for a student enrolled at or an employee of the |
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institution to electronically report to the institution an |
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allegation of sexual assault, family violence, or stalking |
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committed against or witnessed by the student or employee, |
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regardless of the location at which the alleged offense occurred. |
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(c) The electronic reporting option provided under |
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Subsection (b) must enable a student or employee to report the |
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alleged offense anonymously. |
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(d) A protocol for reporting sexual assault adopted under |
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Section 51.9363 must comply with this section. |
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(e) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt |
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rules as necessary to administer this section. |
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SECTION 2. Not later than January 1, 2018, each public or |
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private postsecondary educational institution shall provide the |
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electronic reporting option required under Section 51.9365, |
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Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 3. 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 September 1, 2017. |