By: Toth H.B. No. 5235
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to regulations and policies for entering or using a
  bathroom or changing facility in a public school; authorizing a
  civil penalty, authorizing a private civil right of action.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 38, Education Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter I to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER I. SINGLE-SEX MULTIPLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOMS AND CHANGING
  FACILITIES
         Sec. 38.451.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing
  facility" means a facility designed or designated for use by more
  than one person at a time, where a person may be in a state of
  undress in the presence of another person, regardless of whether
  the facility provides curtains or partial walls for privacy. The
  term includes a restroom, locker room, changing room, or shower
  room.
               (2)  "Single-occupancy bathroom or changing facility"
  means a facility designed or designated for use by only one person
  at a time, where a person may be in a state of undress, including a
  single toilet restroom with a locking door that is designed or
  designated as unisex or for use based on biological sex.
         Sec. 38.452.  DETERMINATION OF BIOLOGICAL SEX. (a) For
  purposes of this subchapter, a person's biological sex is the
  biological sex correctly stated on the person's official birth
  certificate as described by Subsection (b).
         (b)  A statement of a person's biological sex on the person's
  official birth certificate is considered to have correctly stated
  the person's biological sex only if the statement was:
               (1)  entered at or near the time of the person's birth;
  or
               (2)  modified to correct a scrivener or clerical error
  in the person's biological sex.
         Sec. 38.453.  SINGLE-SEX MULTIPLE-OCCUPANCY BATHROOM OR
  CHANGING FACILITY. A school district or open-enrollment charter
  school shall require that each multiple-occupancy bathroom or
  changing facility accessible to students and located in a school or
  school facility be designated for and used only by persons based on
  the person's biological sex.
         Sec. 38.454.  ACCOMMODATIONS AUTHORIZED. (a) This
  subchapter does not prohibit a school district or open-enrollment
  charter school from providing an accommodation, including a
  single-occupancy bathroom or changing facility or the controlled
  use of a faculty bathroom or changing facility, on request due to
  special circumstances.
         (b)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
  not provide an accommodation that allows a person to use a
  multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility accessible to
  students that is designated for the biological sex opposite to the
  person's biological sex.
         Sec. 38.455.  PRIVATE LEASES AND CONTRACTS. (a) A private
  entity that leases or contracts to use a building owned or leased by
  a school district or open-enrollment charter school is not subject
  to Section 38.453.
         (b)  A school district or open-enrollment charter school may
  not require a private entity described by Subsection (a) to adopt,
  or prohibit the private entity from adopting, a policy on the
  designation or use of bathrooms or changing facilities located in
  the building.
         Sec. 38.456.  EXCEPTIONS. A designation of a
  multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility under Section
  38.453 does not apply to a person entering a multiple-occupancy
  bathroom or changing facility designated for the biological sex
  opposite to the person's biological sex:
               (1)  for a custodial purpose;
               (2)  for a maintenance or inspection purpose;
               (3)  to render medical or other emergency assistance;
               (4)  to accompany a student needing assistance in using
  the facility, if the assisting person is:
                     (A)  an employee or authorized volunteer of the
  school district or open-enrollment charter school; or
                     (B)  the student's parent, guardian, conservator,
  or authorized caregiver;
               (5)  to accompany a person other than a student needing
  assistance in using the facility; or
               (6)  to receive assistance in using the facility.
         Sec. 38.457.  CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN POLICIES PROHIBITED.
  In awarding a contract for the purchase of goods or services, a
  school district or open-enrollment charter school may not consider
  whether a private entity competing for the contract has adopted a
  policy relating to the designation or use of the entity's bathrooms
  or changing facilities.
         Sec. 38.457.  CIVIL LIABILITY. (a) Notwithstanding any
  other law and except as provided by this section, a district who
  violates this chapter is strictly and jointly and severally liable
  for the personal injury of a student or faculty member as a result
  of a school district or open-enrollment charter school’s policy to
  allow persons from either biological sex to access the same
  multiple-occupancy bathroom or changing facility.
         (b)  A claimant may not bring an action under this section if
  the action is preempted by 47 U.S.C. Section 230(c).
         (c)  A district who violates a student’s right to privacy
  prescribed by this chapter is liable for a civil penalty in the
  amount of $100,000 for each violation. Civil penalties assessed
  under this chapter shall be deposited in the general revenue fund.
         (d)  The attorney general may bring an action to collect the
  civil penalty imposed under Subsection (a).
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.