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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to prohibiting the use of political tests by public |
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institutions of higher education. |
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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 51.9316 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9316. POLITICAL TESTS PROHIBITED. (a) In this |
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section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned |
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by Section 61.003. |
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(b) An institution of higher education may not require an |
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employee or student or an applicant for employment with or |
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admission to the institution, as a condition of employment, |
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promotion, or admission, to identify a commitment to or make a |
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statement of personal belief supporting any specific partisan, |
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political, or ideological set of beliefs, including an ideology or |
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movement that promotes the differential treatment of any individual |
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or group based on race or ethnicity, such as: |
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(1) an initiative or formulation of diversity, equity, |
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and inclusion beyond what is necessary to uphold the equal |
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protection of the laws under the Fourteenth Amendment to the United |
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States Constitution; or |
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(2) a theory or practice that asserts that systems or |
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institutions upholding the equal protection of the laws under the |
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Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution are racist, |
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oppressive, or otherwise unjust. |
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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 September 1, 2023. |