87S10316 ANG-D
 
  By: Crockett H.B. No. 216
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to social studies curriculum in public schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Sections 28.002(h-3) and (h-5), Education Code,
  as effective September 1, 2021, are amended to read as follows:
         (h-3)  For any social studies course in the required
  curriculum:
               (1)  a teacher may not be compelled to discuss a
  particular current event or widely debated and currently
  controversial issue of public policy or social affairs;
               (2)  a teacher who chooses to discuss a topic described
  by Subdivision (1) shall, to the best of the teacher's ability,
  strive to explore the topic from diverse and contending
  perspectives without giving deference to any one perspective; and
               (3)  [a school district, open-enrollment charter
  school, or teacher may not require, make part of a course, or award
  a grade or course credit, including extra credit, for a student's:
                     [(A)  political activism, lobbying, or efforts to
  persuade members of the legislative or executive branch at the
  federal, state, or local level to take specific actions by direct
  communication; or
                     [(B)  participation in any internship, practicum,
  or similar activity involving social or public policy advocacy; and
               [(4)]  a teacher, administrator, or other employee of a
  state agency, school district, or open-enrollment charter school
  may not:
                     (A)  be required to engage in training,
  orientation, or therapy that presents any form of race or sex
  stereotyping or blame on the basis of race or sex;
                     (B)  require or make part of a course the concept
  that:
                           (i)  one race or sex is inherently superior
  to another race or sex;
                           (ii)  an individual, by virtue of the
  individual's race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or
  oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;
                           (iii)  an individual should be discriminated
  against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of
  the individual's race;
                           (iv)  members of one race or sex cannot and
  should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex;
                           (v)  an individual's moral character,
  standing, or worth is necessarily determined by the individual's
  race or sex;
                           (vi)  an individual, by virtue of the
  individual's race or sex, bears responsibility for actions
  committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;
                           (vii)  an individual should feel discomfort,
  guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on
  account of the individual's race or sex;
                           (viii)  meritocracy or traits such as a hard
  work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a
  particular race to oppress members of another race;
                           (ix)  the advent of slavery in the territory
  that is now the United States constituted the true founding of the
  United States; or
                           (x)  with respect to their relationship to
  American values, slavery and racism are anything other than
  deviations from, betrayals of, or failures to live up to, the
  authentic founding principles of the United States, which include
  liberty and equality; and
                     (C)  require an understanding of the [The] 1619
  Project.
         (h-5)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school
  may not implement, interpret, or enforce any rules or student code
  of conduct in a manner that would result in the punishment of a
  student for discussing, or have a chilling effect on student
  discussion of, the concepts described by Subsection (h-3)(3)
  [(h-3)(4)].
         SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2021-2022
  school year.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021, 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 effect on that
  date, this Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the
  legislative session.