89R3986 BCH-D
By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 645
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to including antisemitism in the definition of bullying
for the purpose of school discipline policies.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 37.0832(a), Education Code, is amended
by amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivision (3) to read as
follows:
(1) "Bullying":
(A) means a single significant act or a pattern
of acts by one or more students directed at another student that
exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or
verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or
physical conduct that satisfies the applicability requirements
provided by Subsection (a-1), and that:
(i) has the effect or will have the effect
of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or
placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person
or of damage to the student's property;
(ii) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or
pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating,
threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student;
(iii) materially and substantially
disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a
classroom or school; or
(iv) infringes on the rights of the victim
at school; and
(B) includes cyberbullying and antisemitism.
(3) "Antisemitism" means conduct described by
Paragraph (1)(A) that is based on a certain perception of Jews that
may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. The term includes
rhetorical and physical acts of antisemitism directed toward Jewish
or non-Jewish individuals or their property or toward Jewish
community institutions and religious facilities. Examples of
antisemitism are included with the International Holocaust
Remembrance Alliance's "Working Definition of Antisemitism"
adopted on May 26, 2016.
SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026
school 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.