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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to repealing the prohibition on promoting homosexuality in |
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certain educational materials and instruction. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 85.007(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The materials in the education programs intended for |
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persons younger than 18 years of age must[: |
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[(1)] emphasize sexual abstinence before marriage and |
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fidelity in marriage as the expected standard in terms of public |
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health and the most effective ways to prevent HIV infection, |
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sexually transmitted diseases, and unwanted pregnancies[; and |
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[(2) state that homosexual conduct is not an acceptable |
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lifestyle and is a criminal offense under Section 21.06, Penal |
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Code]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 163.002, Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 163.002. INSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS. Course materials and |
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instruction relating to sexual education or sexually transmitted |
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diseases should include: |
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(1) an emphasis on sexual abstinence as the only |
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completely reliable method of avoiding unwanted teenage pregnancy |
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and sexually transmitted diseases; |
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(2) an emphasis on the importance of self-control, |
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responsibility, and ethical conduct in making decisions relating to |
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sexual behavior; |
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(3) statistics, based on the latest medical |
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information, that indicate the efficacy of the various forms of |
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contraception; |
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(4) information concerning the laws relating to the |
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financial responsibilities associated with pregnancy, childbirth, |
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and child rearing; |
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(5) information concerning the laws prohibiting |
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sexual abuse and the legal and counseling options available to |
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victims of sexual abuse; |
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(6) information on how to cope with and rebuff |
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unwanted physical and verbal sexual advances, as well as the |
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importance of avoiding the sexual exploitation of other persons; |
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and |
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(7) psychologically sound methods of resisting |
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unwanted peer pressure[; and |
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[(8) emphasis, provided in a factual manner and from a |
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public health perspective, that homosexuality is not a lifestyle |
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acceptable to the general public and that homosexual conduct is a |
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criminal offense under Section 21.06, Penal Code]. |
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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, 2023. |