Bill Text: TX HB5126 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Introduced


Bill Title: Relating to requiring public institutions of higher education to publish certain online resources.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-03-24 - Referred to Higher Education [HB5126 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-HB5126-Introduced.html
  88R8390 CXP-D
 
  By: Shaheen H.B. No. 5126
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to requiring public institutions of higher education to
  publish certain online resources.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is
  amended by adding Section 51.9747 to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.9747.  ONLINE PUBLIC RESOURCES. (a) In this
  section:
               (1)  "Institution of higher education" has the meaning
  assigned by Section 61.003.
               (2)  "Training session" means a program, lecture,
  presentation, or directed group activity planned or presented by an
  institution of higher education for students, faculty, staff, or
  the public, whether mandatory or voluntary, for the purpose of
  coordinating behavior with certain standards or securing
  compliance with a certain message or purpose. The term includes any
  orientation program for new students, faculty, or staff and any
  training regarding topics surrounding race, gender, sexual
  identity, campus climate, or interpersonal relations.
         (b)  Each institution of higher education shall make
  available to prospective students, parents of prospective
  students, and other interested members of the public on the
  institution's Internet website:
               (1)  a syllabus portal;
               (2)  an employment information directory; and
               (3)  a training sessions database.
         (c)  The information made available under Subsection (b)
  must be:
               (1)  accessible from the institution's Internet website
  home page by the use of not more than three website links;
               (2)  searchable by keywords and phrases; and
               (3)  accessible to the public without requiring
  registration or use of a user name, password, or other form of user
  identification.
         (d)  The syllabus portal must include a single database
  containing the course syllabus for every classroom course offered
  for credit by the institution. A syllabus included in the portal:
               (1)  must comply with the requirements under Section
  51.974(a)(1); and
               (2)  may exclude the time and location of class
  meetings.
         (e)  The employment information directory must be updated at
  least annually and include the following information for each
  employee or officer of the institution:
               (1)  name;
               (2)  department;
               (3)  tenure status;
               (4)  job title; and
               (5)  general job description.
         (f)  The state auditor shall audit each institution of higher
  education's employment information directory for compliance with
  this section and any other relevant provisions of law at least once
  every three years. This subsection does not affect the state
  auditor's authority to conduct an audit in accordance with Chapter
  321, Government Code.
         (g)  The training sessions database must include a playable
  video recording or written transcript record of every training
  session the institution conducts for students, faculty, or staff.
  The recording or transcript must include the entirety of the
  training session, including any question and answer session, but
  may not include any personally identifying information of a
  student, faculty member, or staff member who participated in the
  training session but was not involved with the planning,
  coordination, or presentation of the training session.
         (h)  The governing board of each institution of higher
  education shall designate an administrator to be responsible for
  ensuring compliance with this section. The administrator may
  assign duties under this section to one or more administrative
  employees.
         (i)  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board may adopt
  rules necessary to implement this section.
         SECTION 2.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, each public institution of higher education shall
  comply with Section 51.9747, Education Code, as added by this Act.
         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, 2023.
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