BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 3435
86R11388 TSS-D	By: Bowers (Johnson)
	Education
	5/14/2019
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

It has been noted that ongoing efforts to engage more women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields have not yet led to gender equality in the associated workforces. H.B. 3435 seeks to address this issue by designating March 1 as Texas Girls in STEM Day.

Through the creation of a day for Texas women in STEM, we will encourage school districts, local colleges, and local businesses to form partnerships and host special events which encourage local girls to consider the STEM fields as a career path. Additionally, "Texas Girls in STEM Day" will be utilized to honor Texas Women, past and present, who are excelling in a STEM field.

H.B. 3435 amends current law relating to establishing and celebrating Texas Girls in STEM Day.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 662, Government Code, by adding Section 662.071, as follows:

Sec. 662.071. TEXAS GIRLS IN STEM DAY. (a) Provides that March 1 is designated as Texas Girls in STEM Day to celebrate and encourage the participation of girls in this state in fields related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

(b) Requires Texas Girls in STEM Day to be regularly observed by appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs in public schools, public institutions of higher education, and other places to:

(1) encourage girls in this state to consider career fields in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; and

(2) celebrate and honor the women of this state who have excelled in those fields.

SECTION 2. Amends Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, by adding Section 29.925, as follows:

Sec. 29.925.� TEXAS GIRLS IN STEM. Authorizes each school district, in recognition of Texas Girls in STEM Day, to include throughout the month of March appropriate instruction, activities, and programs to encourage and celebrate women in career fields related to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Authorizes the instruction to include programs that profile women in those fields and related fields, including finance, information technology, data analytics, cybersecurity, and health care cloud architecture.

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2019.