Relating to regulations and policies for entering or using a bathroom or changing facility in a public school.
Impact
The enactment of HB 1015 would centralize authority in establishing bathroom policies within public schools, making significant changes to how state laws govern student access to facilities. The bill supports the notion of 'single-sex' facilities, which stakeholders argue could enhance privacy and safety for students, especially in high school settings. Critics, however, contend that enforcing such distinctions may exacerbate challenges for transgender and non-binary students, leading to exclusion and discrimination within educational spaces.
Summary
House Bill 1015 outlines regulations related to the use of bathrooms and changing facilities in public schools, mandating that multiple-occupancy bathrooms be designated for use based on a student's biological sex. The bill stipulates that for the purposes of these regulations, a person's biological sex is determined by their official birth certificate, supporting a clear delineation between male and female facilities within school environments. This focus on biological sex has implications for students who may identify as a gender different from their assigned sex at birth.
Contention
Discussions surrounding HB 1015 have revealed a diverse spectrum of opinion. Supporters assert that the bill aims to protect the integrity and privacy of biological sexes, while detractors perceive it as a legislative effort to undermine the rights and dignity of gender-diverse students. The defined role of biological sex, as grounded in official documentation, raises multiple concerns regarding the respect and acknowledgment of individual identities and the potential psychological impacts on students affected by these regulations. Overall, the bill reflects broader societal debates on gender, identity, and inclusion.
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.
Relating to measures for ensuring safety and security in public schools, including measures related to the health and safety of public school students and active shooter training for certain peace officers.
Relating to measures for ensuring public school safety, including the development and implementation of purchases relating to and funding for public school safety and security requirements and the provision of safety-related resources.
Relating to special education in public schools, including the special education allotment under the Foundation School Program, an education savings account program for certain children with disabilities, and a grant program to reimburse public schools for the cost of certain employer contributions for retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas employed to teach or provide services related to special education.
In duties and powers of boards of school directors, further providing for school athletics, publications, and organizations; in grounds and buildings, further providing for water-closets or out-houses and providing for bathroom and athletic facilities for transgender students; and, in school health services, further providing for examinations of school buildings and grounds.
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.
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.