By: King S.B. No. 1517

(In the Senate - Filed March 3, 2023; March 16, 2023, read first time and referred to Subcommittee on Higher Education; April 24, 2023, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute from Committee on Education by the following vote: Yeas 11, Nays 1; April 24, 2023, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1517 By: Springer

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to prohibiting certain academic boycotts of foreign countries by public institutions of higher education.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is amended by adding Section 51.987 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.987. CERTAIN ACADEMIC BOYCOTTS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES PROHIBITED. (a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.

(b) Subject to Subsection (c), an institution of higher education may not implement an academic boycott of a foreign country that would prevent a student or faculty member of the institution from:

(1) studying or conducting research in or about the country; or

(2) interacting with the country's scholars or representatives.

(c) An institution of higher education may implement an academic boycott described by Subsection (b) of a foreign country included by the United States Department of State on a list of state sponsors of terrorism.

(d) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.

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