Relating to contracts with and the acceptance of money from certain foreign sources by public schools and public institutions of higher education; providing administrative penalties.
Impact
If enacted, HB 4195 would significantly alter the legal landscape surrounding financial relationships between public educational institutions and foreign actors. It imposes strict regulations that could lead to administrative penalties for schools that violate the prohibitions, potentially costing institutions up to 150% of the value of the contracts or donations in question. This could impact research collaborations, academic exchanges, and funding for educational programs involving foreign organizations or individuals linked to the designated adversaries.
Summary
House Bill 4195 aims to regulate contracts and the acceptance of financial contributions from designated foreign adversaries by public schools and institutions of higher education in Texas. The bill defines 'foreign adversaries' to include countries recognized for their hostile activities against the United States, such as China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia. By prohibiting contracts and donations from such entities, the bill seeks to protect the integrity of educational institutions and prevent external influences deemed harmful to national security.
Contention
The bill is likely to provoke debate regarding its implications for academic freedom and collaboration. Critics may argue that restricting financial contributions and partnerships with foreign entities could limit the resources available to educational institutions and hinder valuable international academic exchanges. Supporters, however, would contend that the risks associated with foreign influence in public education necessitate such measures to safeguard against potential conflicts of interest and security threats.
Texas Constitutional Statutes Affected
Education Code
Chapter 11. School Districts
Section: New Section
Chapter 51. Provisions Generally Applicable To Higher Education
Relating to the disclosure of certain gifts, grants, contracts, and financial interests received from a foreign source by certain state agencies, public institutions of higher education, and state contractors, and to the approval and monitoring of employment-related foreign travel and activities by certain public institution of higher education employees; providing civil and administrative penalties.
Relating to the disclosure of certain gifts, grants, contracts, and financial interests received from a foreign source by certain state agencies, public institutions of higher education, and state contractors, and to the approval and monitoring of employment-related foreign travel and activities by certain public institution of higher education employees; providing civil and administrative penalties.
Relating to the regulation of money services businesses; creating a criminal offense; creating administrative penalties; authorizing the imposition of a fee.
Relating to authorized investments of public money by certain governmental entities and the confidentiality of certain information related to those investments.
Relating to the rights and certification of public school educators and assistance provided to public schools by the Texas Education Agency related to public school educators and to certain allotments under the Foundation School Program.
Relating to contracts with and the acceptance of money from certain foreign sources by public schools and public institutions of higher education; providing civil penalties.
Relating to prohibiting certain dealings with foreign adversaries by public schools and public institutions of higher education; providing civil penalties; creating criminal offenses.
Relating to measures to protect public institutions of higher education from foreign adversaries and to the prosecution of the criminal offense of theft of trade secrets; providing civil and administrative penalties; increasing a criminal penalty.
Relating to measures to protect institutions of higher education from foreign adversaries and to the prosecution of the criminal offense of theft of trade secrets; increasing a criminal penalty.
Relating to a prohibition on governmental contracts with companies of foreign adversaries for certain information and communications technology; authorizing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.