Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB3471 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	88R13291 KJE-F
2	2	By: Bucy H.B. No. 3471
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the general responsibility of public institutions of
8	8	higher education and to protected expression and academic freedom
9	9	at those institutions.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Section 51.354, Education Code, is amended to
12	12	read as follows:
13	13	Sec. 51.354. INSTITUTIONAL RESPONSIBILITY. In addition to
14	14	specific responsibilities imposed by this code or other law, each
15	15	institution of higher education has the general responsibility to
16	16	serve all members of the public regardless of social background
17	17	and, within the institution's role and mission, to:
18	18	(1) transmit diverse perspectives, knowledge, and
19	19	culture through general education;
20	20	(2) extend knowledge and promote critical thinking;
21	21	(3) teach and train students for 21st century
22	22	professions;
23	23	(4) provide for scientific, engineering, medical,
24	24	social science, and other academic research;
25	25	(5) protect intellectual exploration and academic
26	26	freedom for students and faculty;
27	27	(6) strive for intellectual excellence;
28	28	(7) provide educational opportunity for all, with
29	29	special attention to traditionally underserved and marginalized
30	30	populations who would most [can] benefit from opportunities
31	31	provided by postsecondary education and training; and
32	32	(8) provide continuing education opportunities for a
33	33	diverse array of populations.
34	34	SECTION 2. Section 51.9315(f), Education Code, is amended
35	35	to read as follows:
36	36	(f) Each institution of higher education shall adopt a
37	37	policy detailing students' rights and responsibilities regarding
38	38	expressive activities at the institution. The policy must:
39	39	(1) protect a person's or student organization's right
40	40	to uphold and promote ideals related to diversity, equity, and
41	41	inclusion;
42	42	(2) allow:
43	43	(A) any person to, subject to reasonable
44	44	restrictions adopted under Subsection (d), engage in expressive
45	45	activities on campus, including by responding to the expressive
46	46	activities of others; and
47	47	(B) student organizations and faculty to,
48	48	subject to Subsection (h), invite speakers to speak on campus;
49	49	(3) [(2)] establish disciplinary sanctions for
50	50	students, student organizations, or faculty who unduly interfere
51	51	with the expressive activities of others on campus;
52	52	(4) [(3)] include a grievance procedure for
53	53	addressing complaints of a violation of this section;
54	54	(5) [(4)] be approved by a majority vote of the
55	55	institution's governing board before final adoption; and
56	56	(6) [(5)] be posted on the institution's Internet
57	57	website.
58	58	SECTION 3. Section 51.942, Education Code, is amended by
59	59	adding Subsection (c-2) to read as follows:
60	60	(c-2) For purposes of Subsection (c)(5), a faculty member's
61	61	exercise of the right of free speech or use of diverse instructional
62	62	materials may not be considered to be incompetency, neglect of
63	63	duty, or other good cause for disciplinary action.
64	64	SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.