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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an exemption from certain requirements regarding |
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diversity, equity, or inclusion initiatives for certain activities |
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for veterans or persons with disabilities provided by public |
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institutions of higher education and to reporting regarding those |
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activities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 51.3525, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (d), (e), and (j) and adding Subsection (d-1) |
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to read as follows: |
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(d) Subsection (b)(1) may not be construed to apply to: |
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(1) academic course instruction; |
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(2) scholarly research or a creative work by an |
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institution of higher education's students, faculty, or other |
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research personnel or the dissemination of that research or work; |
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(3) an activity of a student organization registered |
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with or recognized by an institution of higher education; |
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(4) guest speakers or performers on short-term |
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engagements; |
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(5) a policy, practice, procedure, program, or |
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activity to enhance student academic achievement or postgraduate |
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outcomes that is designed and implemented without regard to race, |
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sex, color, or ethnicity; |
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(6) data collection; [or] |
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(7) student recruitment or admissions; or |
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(8) a service, program, or activity that supports |
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veterans or persons with disabilities without regard to race, sex, |
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color, or ethnicity, including: |
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(A) the hiring or assignment of personnel |
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necessary to comply with state or federal law or grant requirements |
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relating to veterans or persons with disabilities; and |
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(B) training developed or implemented to address |
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the unique needs and rights of veterans or persons with |
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disabilities. |
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(d-1) The provision of a service, program, or activity under |
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Subsection (d)(8) may not be used to establish or maintain a |
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diversity, equity, and inclusion office unless explicitly required |
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by state or federal law. |
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(e) An institution of higher education may not spend money |
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appropriated to the institution for a state fiscal year until the |
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governing board of the institution submits to the legislature and |
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the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board a report certifying |
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the board's compliance with this section during the preceding state |
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fiscal year. The report must include: |
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(1) a description of services, programs, and |
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activities offered by the institution that support veterans or |
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persons with disabilities; |
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(2) any change or discontinuation of services, |
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programs, or activities described by Subdivision (1), including the |
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reason for the change or discontinuation; and |
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(3) efforts made to ensure compliance with applicable |
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state and federal laws regarding veterans or persons with |
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disabilities. |
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(j) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in |
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coordination with institutions of higher education, shall conduct a |
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biennial study to identify the impact of the implementation of this |
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section on the application rate, acceptance rate, matriculation |
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rate, retention rate, grade point average, and graduation rate of |
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students at institutions of higher education, disaggregated by |
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race, sex, veteran status, disability status, and ethnicity. Not |
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later than December 1 of each even-numbered year, the coordinating |
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board shall submit to the legislature a report on the results of the |
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study, [and] any recommendations for legislative or other action, |
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and a summary of information submitted to the coordinating board |
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under Subsections (e)(1), (2), and (3). This subsection expires |
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September 1, 2029. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |