89R3788 KJE-D
By: Menéndez S.B. No. 187
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to reporting and providing information regarding
discrimination and harassment based on race, color, or ethnicity at
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 51.9795 to read as follows:
Sec. 51.9795. REPORTING AND INFORMATION REGARDING
DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT BASED ON RACE, COLOR, OR ETHNICITY.
(a) In this section, "institution of higher education" has the
meaning assigned by Section 61.003.
(b) An institution of higher education shall develop and
implement a process for students enrolled at the institution to
submit complaints to the institution regarding incidents of
discrimination or harassment based on race, color, or ethnicity at
the institution. The process must include:
(1) the ability to submit a complaint through an
Internet website and a hotline maintained by the institution; and
(2) an option to remain anonymous.
(c) Each year, an institution of higher education shall
inform freshman and returning students regarding:
(1) the institution's policy prohibiting
discrimination or harassment based on race, color, or ethnicity;
(2) the process for submitting a complaint regarding
incidents of discrimination or harassment based on race, color, or
ethnicity at the institution to:
(A) the institution;
(B) the United States Department of Education's
Office for Civil Rights; and
(C) the institution's accrediting agency; and
(3) the number of complaints regarding incidents of
discrimination or harassment based on race, color, or ethnicity at
the institution received by each entity described by Subdivision
(2) during the preceding academic year, to the extent available.
(d) An institution of higher education shall post in a
publicly accessible location on the institution's Internet website
the information described by Subsection (c)(3).
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
academic year.
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, 2025.