S.B. No. 1517
AN ACT
relating to prohibiting certain academic boycotts of foreign
countries by public institutions of higher education.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 51.987 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.987. CERTAIN ACADEMIC BOYCOTTS OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES
PROHIBITED. (a) In this section, "institution of higher
education" has the meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(b) Subject to Subsection (c), an institution of higher
education may not implement an academic boycott of a foreign
country that would prevent a student or faculty member of the
institution from:
(1) studying or conducting research in or about the
country; or
(2) interacting with the country's scholars or
representatives.
(c) An institution of higher education may implement an
academic boycott described by Subsection (b) of a foreign country
included by the United States Department of State on a list of state
sponsors of terrorism. The boycott may not prevent a student
enrolled at the institution from studying or being educated about
the country.
(d) The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board shall
adopt rules as necessary to implement this section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1517 passed the Senate on
April 26, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4; and that
the Senate concurred in House amendment on May 25, 2023, by the
following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1517 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 22, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 103,
Nays 26, sixteen present not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor