Texas 2023 - 88th Regular

Texas House Bill HB97 Compare Versions

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Version 2 (New)

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1	1	88R2239 ANG-D
2	2	By: Bernal H.B. No. 97
3	3
4	4
5	5	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
6	6	AN ACT
7	7	relating to certain public school instructional requirements and
8	8	prohibitions and the incorporation of certain instructional
9	9	activities as part of student coursework.
10	10	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
11	11	SECTION 1. Sections 21.4555(a) and (b), Education Code, are
12	12	amended to read as follows:
13	13	(a) To facilitate the teaching of curriculum consistent
14	14	with Section [Sections] 28.002(h-2) [and 28.0022], the
15	15	commissioner shall develop and make available civics training
16	16	programs for teachers and administrators.
17	17	(b) A civics training program developed under this section
18	18	must include training in:
19	19	(1) the essential knowledge and skills for the social
20	20	studies curriculum related to civic knowledge adopted under Section
21	21	28.002(h-2);
22	22	(2) guided classroom discussion of current events, as
23	23	appropriate for the grade level [and consistent with the
24	24	restrictions under Section 28.0022];
25	25	(3) classroom simulations and models of governmental
26	26	and democratic processes consistent with the requirements [and
27	27	restrictions] of Section [Sections] 28.002(h-2) [and 28.0022];
28	28	(4) media literacy, including instruction on
29	29	verifying information and sources, identifying and responding to
30	30	logical fallacies, and identifying propaganda, as appropriate for
31	31	the grade level [and consistent with the restrictions under Section
32	32	28.0022]; and
33	33	(5) strategies for incorporating civics instruction
34	34	into subject areas other than social studies.
35	35	SECTION 2. The heading to Section 28.0022, Education Code,
36	36	is amended to read as follows:
37	37	Sec. 28.0022. CERTAIN INSTRUCTIONAL ACTIVITIES PERMITTED
38	38	[REQUIREMENTS AND PROHIBITIONS].
39	39	SECTION 3. Section 28.0022(a), Education Code, is amended
40	40	to read as follows:
41	41	(a) For any course or subject, including an innovative
42	42	course, for a grade level from kindergarten through grade 12,[:
43	43	[(1) a teacher may not be compelled to discuss a widely
44	44	debated and currently controversial issue of public policy or
45	45	social affairs;
46	46	[(2) a teacher who chooses to discuss a topic
47	47	described by Subdivision (1) shall explore that topic objectively
48	48	and in a manner free from political bias;
49	49	[(3)] a school district, open-enrollment charter
50	50	school, or teacher may, as an option for student learning [not
51	51	require], make part of a course, or award a grade or course credit,
52	52	including extra credit, for a student's:
53	53	(1) [(A)] work for, affiliation with, or service
54	54	learning in association with any organization engaged in[:
55	55	[(i)] lobbying for legislation at the
56	56	federal, state, or local level[, if the student's duties involve
57	57	directly or indirectly attempting to influence social or public
58	58	policy or the outcome of legislation]; or
59	59	(2) [(ii) social policy advocacy or public policy
60	60	advocacy;
61	61	[(B) political activism, lobbying, or efforts to
62	62	persuade members of the legislative or executive branch at the
63	63	federal, state, or local level to take specific actions by direct
64	64	communication; or
65	65	[(C)] participation in any internship,
66	66	practicum, or similar activity involving social policy advocacy or
67	67	public policy advocacy[; and
68	68	[(4) a teacher, administrator, or other employee of a
69	69	state agency, school district, or open-enrollment charter school
70	70	may not:
71	71	[(A) require or make part of a course inculcation
72	72	in the concept that:
73	73	[(i) one race or sex is inherently superior
74	74	to another race or sex;
75	75	[(ii) an individual, by virtue of the
76	76	individual's race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or
77	77	oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;
78	78	[(iii) an individual should be
79	79	discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly
80	80	because of the individual's race or sex;
81	81	[(iv) an individual's moral character,
82	82	standing, or worth is necessarily determined by the individual's
83	83	race or sex;
84	84	[(v) an individual, by virtue of the
85	85	individual's race or sex, bears responsibility, blame, or guilt for
86	86	actions committed by other members of the same race or sex;
87	87	[(vi) meritocracy or traits such as a hard
88	88	work ethic are racist or sexist or were created by members of a
89	89	particular race to oppress members of another race;
90	90	[(vii) the advent of slavery in the
91	91	territory that is now the United States constituted the true
92	92	founding of the United States; or
93	93	[(viii) with respect to their relationship
94	94	to American values, slavery and racism are anything other than
95	95	deviations from, betrayals of, or failures to live up to the
96	96	authentic founding principles of the United States, which include
97	97	liberty and equality;
98	98	[(B) teach, instruct, or train any
99	99	administrator, teacher, or staff member of a state agency, school
100	100	district, or open-enrollment charter school to adopt a concept
101	101	listed under Paragraph (A); or
102	102	[(C) require an understanding of the 1619
103	103	Project].
104	104	SECTION 4. Sections 28.0022(b), (c), (d), (e), (f), and
105	105	(g), Education Code, are repealed.
106	106	SECTION 5. This Act applies beginning with the 2023-2024
107	107	school year.
108	108	SECTION 6. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
109	109	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
110	110	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
111	111	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
112	112	Act takes effect September 1, 2023.