Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB1474 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	88R19396 JTZ-D
2	2	By: Guillen, Ramos, et al. H.B. No. 1474
3	3	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1474:
4	4	By: Raney C.S.H.B. No. 1474
5	5
6	6
7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to protections for pregnant and parenting students
10	10	enrolled in public institutions of higher education.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
13	13	amended by adding Section 51.982 to read as follows:
14	14	Sec. 51.982. PROTECTIONS FOR PREGNANT AND PARENTING
15	15	STUDENTS. (a) In this section:
16	16	(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
17	17	assigned by Section 61.003.
18	18	(2) "Parenting student" means a student who is the
19	19	parent or legal guardian of a child under 18 years of age.
20	20	(b) An institution of higher education may not require a
21	21	pregnant or parenting student, solely because of the student's
22	22	status as a pregnant or parenting student or due to issues related
23	23	to the student's pregnancy or parenting, to:
24	24	(1) take a leave of absence or withdraw from the
25	25	student's degree or certificate program;
26	26	(2) limit the student's studies;
27	27	(3) participate in an alternative program;
28	28	(4) change the student's major, degree, or certificate
29	29	program; or
30	30	(5) refrain from joining or cease participating in any
31	31	course, activity, or program at the institution.
32	32	(c) An institution of higher education shall provide
33	33	reasonable accommodations to a pregnant student, including
34	34	accommodations that:
35	35	(1) would be provided to a student with a temporary
36	36	medical condition; or
37	37	(2) are related to the health and safety of the student
38	38	and the student's unborn child, such as allowing the student to
39	39	maintain a safe distance from substances, areas, and activities
40	40	known to be hazardous to pregnant women or unborn children.
41	41	(d) An institution of higher education shall, for reasons
42	42	related to a student's pregnancy, childbirth, or any resulting
43	43	medical status or condition:
44	44	(1) excuse the student's absence;
45	45	(2) allow the student to make up missed assignments or
46	46	assessments;
47	47	(3) allow the student additional time to complete
48	48	assignments in the same manner as the institution allows for a
49	49	student with a temporary medical condition; and
50	50	(4) provide the student with access to instructional
51	51	materials and video recordings of lectures for classes for which
52	52	the student has an excused absence under this section to the same
53	53	extent that instructional materials and video recordings of
54	54	lectures are made available to any other student with an excused
55	55	absence.
56	56	(e) An institution of higher education shall allow a
57	57	pregnant or parenting student to:
58	58	(1) take a leave of absence; and
59	59	(2) if in good academic standing at the time the
60	60	student takes a leave of absence, return to the student's degree or
61	61	certificate program in good academic standing without being
62	62	required to reapply for admission.
63	63	(f) Each institution of higher education shall adopt a
64	64	policy for students on pregnancy and parenting discrimination. The
65	65	policy must:
66	66	(1) include the contact information for the employee
67	67	or office of the institution that is the designated point of contact
68	68	for a student requesting each protection or accommodation under
69	69	this section;
70	70	(2) be posted in an easily accessible, straightforward
71	71	format on the institution's Internet website; and
72	72	(3) be made available annually to faculty, staff, and
73	73	employees of the institution.
74	74	(g) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, in
75	75	consultation with institutions of higher education, shall adopt
76	76	rules as necessary to administer this section. The rules must
77	77	establish minimum periods for which a pregnant or parenting student
78	78	must be given a leave of absence under Subsection (e). In
79	79	establishing those periods, the board shall consider the maximum
80	80	amount of time a student may be absent without significantly
81	81	interfering with the student's ability to complete the student's
82	82	degree or certificate program.
83	83	SECTION 2. Not later than January 15, 2024, each public
84	84	institution of higher education shall adopt and post on the
85	85	institution's Internet website the policy on pregnancy and
86	86	parenting discrimination required under Section 51.982(f),
87	87	Education Code, as added by this Act.
88	88	SECTION 3. Section 51.982, Education Code, as added by this
89	89	Act, applies beginning with the 2024 spring semester.
90	90	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.