85R1118 CAE-D
By: Sanford H.B. No. 1253
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the free speech right of a member of a board of trustees
of a school district.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 11, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 11.066 to read as follows:
Sec. 11.066. FREEDOM OF SPEECH. The commissioner, the
board of trustees of a school district, a member of the board of
trustees of a school district, or any administrator of a school
district may not interfere or restrict the free speech right,
guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States
Constitution, of a member of the board of trustees of a school
district to publicly express a position regarding or otherwise
discuss any issue under consideration or to be considered by the
board on which the person serves.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2017.