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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to Holocaust education and training for public school |
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educators and students. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 8, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 8.065 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 8.065. COLLABORATION WITH HOLOCAUST MUSEUMS. Each |
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regional education service center shall on a regular basis |
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collaborate with one or more of the Holocaust museums in this state |
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to expand educator training and classroom education opportunities |
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regarding Holocaust education. |
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SECTION 2. Section 29.9072, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to |
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read as follows: |
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(a) In this section, "Holocaust" has the meaning assigned by |
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Section 448.001 [449.001], Government Code. |
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(d) Not later than June 1 of each school year, each school |
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district and open-enrollment charter school shall submit to the |
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agency a report regarding the Holocaust Remembrance Week |
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instruction offered by the district or school for that school year |
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under this section. The report must include the activities, |
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lessons, and instructional materials used for the instruction. |
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(e) As soon as practicable after June 1 of each school year, |
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the agency shall compile all reports submitted under Subsection (d) |
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for the school year and submit the compiled information to each |
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regional education service center and the Texas Holocaust, |
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Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission. |
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(f) Not later than 60 days before the first day of the week |
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designated by the governor as Holocaust Remembrance Week, the |
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agency shall provide notice to each school district and |
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open-enrollment charter school of the week to be known as Holocaust |
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Remembrance Week in public schools, including the instruction and |
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reporting requirements under Subsections (c) and (d). |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 29.90721 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 29.90721. HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE WEEK GRANT PROGRAM. |
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(a) In this section: |
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(1) "Advisory commission" means the Texas Holocaust, |
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Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission. |
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(2) "Commission" means the Texas Historical |
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Commission. |
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(3) "Holocaust" has the meaning assigned by Section |
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448.001, Government Code. |
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(b) From money appropriated, received from gifts, grants, |
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or donations, or otherwise available for purposes of this section, |
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the commission, in coordination with the advisory commission, shall |
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establish and administer a grant program to provide grants to |
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school districts and museums, centers, and other relevant |
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organizations in this state to assist in the implementation of |
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Holocaust Remembrance Week instruction under Section 29.9072. The |
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commission may award a grant for purposes of: |
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(1) developing optional, age-appropriate lesson plans |
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for classroom teachers who lack relevant subject matter expertise |
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regarding the Holocaust; |
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(2) sponsoring student field trips to the Holocaust |
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museums in this state, with priority given to campuses in urban and |
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rural districts; |
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(3) providing training approved by the advisory |
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commission for educators and for administrators who manage |
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professional development and teacher training in each district; |
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(4) cataloging and expanding relevant audiovisual and |
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digital classroom resources, including resources maintained by |
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Holocaust museums in this state; and |
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(5) developing, in collaboration with museums, |
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bilingual curricula to meet the needs of more students in this state |
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and making the curricula available on the advisory commission's |
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Internet website. |
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(c) The commission, in coordination with the advisory |
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commission, shall adopt rules as necessary to establish and |
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administer the grant program under this section. |
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SECTION 4. Section 29.9072, Education Code, as amended by |
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this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. |
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SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Texas Historical Commission, in coordination with |
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the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory |
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Commission, shall establish the grant program required by Section |
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29.90721, Education Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |