81R10308 KKA-D
 
  By: Coleman H.B. No. 3746
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to prevention of discrimination and harassment in public
  schools.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 11, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 11.172 to read as follows:
         Sec. 11.172.  DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT, AND RETALIATION
  PROHIBITED. (a)  In this section:
               (1)  "Gender identity or expression" means a person's
  having, or being perceived as having, a gender-related identity,
  appearance, expression, or behavior, whether or not that identity,
  appearance, expression, or behavior is different from that commonly
  associated with the person's assigned sex at birth.
               (2)  "Sexual orientation" means heterosexuality,
  homosexuality, or bisexuality.
         (b)  A school district or employee of a school district may
  not:
               (1)  discriminate against or harass an employee of the
  district or a student enrolled in the district on account of:
                     (A)  the actual or perceived ethnicity, color,
  gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation,
  disability, religion, or national origin of the employee, student,
  or student's parent; or
                     (B)  one or more persons with whom the employee,
  student, or student's parent associates; or
               (2)  retaliate against an employee of the district or a
  student enrolled in the district for reporting potential
  discrimination or harassment prohibited by Subdivision (1).
         (c)  This section applies to conduct that occurs:
               (1)  on school property;
               (2)  while attending a school-sponsored or
  school-related activity on or off of school property; or
               (3)  in connection with transportation of students in a
  vehicle owned or operated by a school district or owned or operated
  by another entity under contract with a school district.
         (d)  A school district shall provide periodic training to
  district employees regarding prevention of discrimination and
  harassment prohibited by this section and procedures for responding
  to reported or observed incidents of prohibited discrimination or
  harassment. The training may be provided in conjunction with any
  training provided under Section 37.083.
         (e)  In accordance with rules adopted by the commissioner,
  each school district shall report annually to the agency
  information regarding each incident of alleged discrimination or
  harassment that occurred in the district during the preceding year.
  The agency shall include the information in the comprehensive
  annual report required by Section 39.182.
         SECTION 2.  (a)  Each school district shall submit to the 
  Texas Education Agency information as required under Section
  11.172(e), Education Code, as added by this Act, beginning with the
  2010-2011 school year based on incidents of discrimination or
  harassment during the 2009-2010 school year.
         (b)  The Texas Education Agency shall include the
  information required under Section 11.172(e), Education Code, as
  added by this Act, in the comprehensive annual report required by
  Section 39.182, Education Code, beginning with the report required
  to be submitted not later than December 1, 2010.
         SECTION 3.  This Act applies beginning with the 2009-2010
  school year.
         SECTION 4.  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, 2009.