88R8390 CXP-D
By: Shaheen H.B. No. 5126
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring public institutions of higher education to
publish certain online resources.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.9747 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.9747. ONLINE PUBLIC RESOURCES. (a) In this
section:
(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
assigned by Section 61.003.
(2) "Training session" means a program, lecture,
presentation, or directed group activity planned or presented by an
institution of higher education for students, faculty, staff, or
the public, whether mandatory or voluntary, for the purpose of
coordinating behavior with certain standards or securing
compliance with a certain message or purpose. The term includes any
orientation program for new students, faculty, or staff and any
training regarding topics surrounding race, gender, sexual
identity, campus climate, or interpersonal relations.
(b) Each institution of higher education shall make
available to prospective students, parents of prospective
students, and other interested members of the public on the
institution's Internet website:
(1) a syllabus portal;
(2) an employment information directory; and
(3) a training sessions database.
(c) The information made available under Subsection (b)
must be:
(1) accessible from the institution's Internet website
home page by the use of not more than three website links;
(2) searchable by keywords and phrases; and
(3) accessible to the public without requiring
registration or use of a user name, password, or other form of user
identification.
(d) The syllabus portal must include a single database
containing the course syllabus for every classroom course offered
for credit by the institution. A syllabus included in the portal:
(1) must comply with the requirements under Section
51.974(a)(1); and
(2) may exclude the time and location of class
meetings.
(e) The employment information directory must be updated at
least annually and include the following information for each
employee or officer of the institution:
(1) name;
(2) department;
(3) tenure status;
(4) job title; and
(5) general job description.
(f) The state auditor shall audit each institution of higher
education's employment information directory for compliance with
this section and any other relevant provisions of law at least once
every three years. This subsection does not affect the state
auditor's authority to conduct an audit in accordance with Chapter
321, Government Code.
(g) The training sessions database must include a playable
video recording or written transcript record of every training
session the institution conducts for students, faculty, or staff.
The recording or transcript must include the entirety of the
training session, including any question and answer session, but
may not include any personally identifying information of a
student, faculty member, or staff member who participated in the
training session but was not involved with the planning,
coordination, or presentation of the training session.
(h) The governing board of each institution of higher
education shall designate an administrator to be responsible for
ensuring compliance with this section. The administrator may
assign duties under this section to one or more administrative
employees.
(i) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt
rules necessary to implement this section.
SECTION 2. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, each public institution of higher education shall
comply with Section 51.9747, Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 3. 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, 2023.