| 1 | 1 | | 87R11512 MLH-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Talarico H.B. No. 4111 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the employment of diversity, equity, and inclusion |
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| 8 | 8 | | officers by school districts. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 22, Education Code, is |
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| 11 | 11 | | amended by adding Section 22.903 to read as follows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | Sec. 22.903. DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION OFFICERS. |
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| 13 | 13 | | (a) This section applies to a school district other than a district |
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| 14 | 14 | | entitled to an allotment under Section 48.101. |
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| 15 | 15 | | (b) Each school district to which this section applies must |
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| 16 | 16 | | employ a diversity, equity, and inclusion officer. An individual |
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| 17 | 17 | | hired as a district's diversity, equity, and inclusion officer |
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| 18 | 18 | | must: |
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| 19 | 19 | | (1) have significant professional experience in |
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| 20 | 20 | | diversity, equity, and inclusion, including demonstrated |
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| 21 | 21 | | experience working with: |
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| 22 | 22 | | (A) students of limited English proficiency; |
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| 23 | 23 | | (B) students enrolled in special education |
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| 24 | 24 | | programs; and |
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| 25 | 25 | | (C) families of students described by Paragraph |
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| 26 | 26 | | (A) or (B); or |
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| 27 | 27 | | (2) hold an approved certification in diversity, |
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| 28 | 28 | | equity, or inclusion. |
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| 29 | 29 | | (c) A school district's diversity, equity, and inclusion |
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| 30 | 30 | | officer shall: |
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| 31 | 31 | | (1) lead the district's efforts to establish and |
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| 32 | 32 | | sustain a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion for all |
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| 33 | 33 | | students by addressing systemic inequities that lead to differences |
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| 34 | 34 | | in student achievement; |
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| 35 | 35 | | (2) support continuing education and training related |
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| 36 | 36 | | to diversity, equity, or inclusion; |
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| 37 | 37 | | (3) develop district policies, practices, and |
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| 38 | 38 | | programs that champion the individual cultures, talents, |
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| 39 | 39 | | abilities, languages, and interests of each student; and |
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| 40 | 40 | | (4) ensure that each student receives the necessary |
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| 41 | 41 | | opportunities and resources to meet the student's unique needs, |
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| 42 | 42 | | abilities, and aspirations. |
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| 43 | 43 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |
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