Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB368 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	88R1953 BDP-D
2	2	By: J. Johnson of Harris H.B. No. 368
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to the establishment of the African American studies
8	8	advisory board by the State Board of Education.
9	9	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
10	10	SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 28, Education Code, is
11	11	amended by adding Section 28.019 to read as follows:
12	12	Sec. 28.019. AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES ADVISORY BOARD. (a)
13	13	In this section, "board" means the African American studies
14	14	advisory board.
15	15	(b) The State Board of Education shall establish and
16	16	maintain an African American studies advisory board for the purpose
17	17	of broadening the content in social studies, African American
18	18	studies, and any other identified courses to include citizenship,
19	19	culture, economics, science, technology, geography, and politics
20	20	as they relate to the history of African Americans.
21	21	(c) The board is composed of 15 members appointed by the
22	22	State Board of Education as follows:
23	23	(1) 10 members who are academic professionals with
24	24	expertise in African American studies and who have served to
25	25	actively educate the public on the impact of the enslavement era,
26	26	the contributions of African Americans to society, and racial
27	27	equity issues, including:
28	28	(A) five members who are:
29	29	(i) faculty and staff members representing
30	30	the African American studies departments of institutions of higher
31	31	education in this state; and
32	32	(ii) recommended by five different
33	33	institutions of higher education in this state, including:
34	34	(a) at least one member recommended by
35	35	a public junior college;
36	36	(b) one member recommended by Prairie
37	37	View A&M University's African American studies initiative; and
38	38	(c) one member recommended by Texas
39	39	Southern University's African American studies minor program; and
40	40	(B) five members who:
41	41	(i) represent school districts; and
42	42	(ii) are recommended by organizations that
43	43	represent practitioners, administrators, and school leaders,
44	44	including at least:
45	45	(a) one member recommended by the
46	46	Texas Alliance of Black School Educators;
47	47	(b) one member recommended by the
48	48	Texas Caucus of Black School Board Members; and
49	49	(c) one member recommended by the
50	50	Texas Association of Rural Schools; and
51	51	(2) five members who:
52	52	(A) represent public school students and
53	53	parents;
54	54	(B) include three current public school
55	55	students; and
56	56	(C) are recommended by education organizations,
57	57	including at least:
58	58	(i) one member recommended by a statewide
59	59	organization focused on research-based education policy; and
60	60	(ii) one member recommended by an advocacy
61	61	organization that works with parents of students.
62	62	(d) Not later than November 1 of each year, the State Board
63	63	of Education shall solicit and review recommendations and make
64	64	final appointments to the board in accordance with Subsection (c).
65	65	(e) Members of the board serve staggered two-year terms,
66	66	with the terms of five members expiring on December 1 of each year.
67	67	Members may be reappointed at the end of a term for up to four terms.
68	68	(f) The members of the board shall elect a presiding officer
69	69	for the board. The board shall hold meetings at the call of the
70	70	presiding officer.
71	71	(g) The board shall:
72	72	(1) advise and provide recommendations to the State
73	73	Board of Education and the agency on curriculum and guidance
74	74	related to African American history and culture; and
75	75	(2) review and propose changes to interdisciplinary
76	76	content that references African American history and culture,
77	77	including textbooks, for kindergarten through grade 12.
78	78	(h) Not later than December 1 of each year, the board shall
79	79	prepare and submit to the governor, the legislature, the agency,
80	80	and the State Board of Education a written report that includes:
81	81	(1) a summary of the board's work throughout the year;
82	82	(2) any information provided to the State Board of
83	83	Education and the agency under Subsection (g); and
84	84	(3) recommendations for legislative action.
85	85	(i) Section 2110.008, Government Code, does not apply to the
86	86	advisory board established under this section.
87	87	SECTION 2. Not later than December 1, 2023, the African
88	88	American studies advisory board established under Section 28.019,
89	89	Education Code, as added by this Act, shall hold its first meeting.
90	90	SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.