Bill Text: TX HB1113 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to staff development for public school employees in cultural competence and implicit bias and to discrimination on the basis of hair texture or protective hairstyle associated with race.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-04 - Referred to State Affairs [HB1113 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-HB1113-Introduced.html
87R5042 KJE-D | ||
By: Thierry | H.B. No. 1113 |
|
||
|
||
relating to staff development for public school employees in | ||
cultural competence and implicit bias and to discrimination on the | ||
basis of hair texture or protective hairstyle associated with race. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 22, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 22.903 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 22.903. STAFF DEVELOPMENT IN CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND | ||
IMPLICIT BIAS. (a) In this section: | ||
(1) "Cultural competence" means the ability to address | ||
the educational needs of individuals from diverse backgrounds | ||
effectively by applying knowledge, empathy, and insight into the | ||
views on education that those backgrounds present. | ||
(2) "Implicit bias" means: | ||
(A) bias in judgment or behavior that results | ||
from subtle cognitive processes, including implicit attitudes and | ||
implicit stereotypes, that often operate at a level below conscious | ||
awareness and without intentional control; or | ||
(B) implicit attitudes and stereotypes that | ||
result in beliefs or simple associations that a person makes | ||
between an object and its evaluation that are automatically | ||
activated by the mere presence, actual or symbolic, of the attitude | ||
object. | ||
(b) At least once every two years, a school district or | ||
open-enrollment charter school shall provide staff development in | ||
cultural competence and implicit bias to employees of the district | ||
or school who regularly interact with students. | ||
(c) The staff development required under Subsection (b) | ||
must include a discussion of cultural competence and implicit bias | ||
with respect to student discipline. | ||
SECTION 2. Subchapter Z, Chapter 25, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 25.902 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 25.902. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN DISCRIMINATION IN | ||
STUDENT DRESS OR GROOMING POLICY. (a) In this section, "protective | ||
hairstyle" includes braids, locks, and twists. | ||
(b) Any student dress or grooming policy adopted by a public | ||
school, including a student dress or grooming policy for any | ||
extracurricular activity, may not discriminate against a hair | ||
texture or protective hairstyle commonly or historically | ||
associated with race. | ||
SECTION 3. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is | ||
amended by adding Section 51.979 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 51.979. PROHIBITION ON CERTAIN DISCRIMINATION IN | ||
STUDENT DRESS OR GROOMING POLICY. (a) In this section: | ||
(1) "Institution of higher education" has the meaning | ||
assigned by Section 61.003. | ||
(2) "Protective hairstyle" includes braids, locks, | ||
and twists. | ||
(b) Any student dress or grooming policy adopted by an | ||
institution of higher education, including a student dress or | ||
grooming policy for any extracurricular activity, may not | ||
discriminate against a hair texture or protective hairstyle | ||
commonly or historically associated with race. | ||
SECTION 4. Subchapter C, Chapter 21, Labor Code, is amended | ||
by adding Section 21.1095 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 21.1095. RACIAL DISCRIMINATION BASED ON HAIR TEXTURE | ||
OR PROTECTIVE HAIRSTYLE. (a) In this section, "protective | ||
hairstyle" includes braids, locks, and twists. | ||
(b) A provision in this chapter referring to discrimination | ||
because of race or on the basis of race includes discrimination | ||
because of or on the basis of an employee's hair texture or | ||
protective hairstyle commonly or historically associated with | ||
race. | ||
(c) An employer, labor union, or employment agency commits | ||
an unlawful employment practice if the employer, labor union, or | ||
employment agency adopts or enforces a dress or grooming policy | ||
that discriminates against a hair texture or protective hairstyle | ||
commonly or historically associated with race. | ||
SECTION 5. Each school district or open-enrollment charter | ||
school shall provide the initial staff development required under | ||
Section 22.903, Education Code, as added by this Act, not later than | ||
June 1, 2022. | ||
SECTION 6. Section 21.1095, Labor Code, as added by this | ||
Act, applies only to an unlawful employment practice that occurs on | ||
or after the effective date of this Act. | ||
SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |