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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relat |
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ing to requiring public institutions of higher education to |
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establish a policy on campus sexual assault. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 51.9363 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 51.9363. CAMPUS SEXUAL ASSAULT POLICY. (a) In this |
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section, "institution of higher education" has the meaning assigned |
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by Section 61.003. |
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(b) Each institution of higher education shall adopt a |
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policy on campus sexual assault. The policy must: |
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(1) include: |
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(A) definitions of prohibited behavior; |
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(B) sanctions for violations; and |
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(C) the protocol for reporting and responding to |
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reports of campus sexual assault; and |
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(2) be approved by the institution's governing board |
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before final adoption by the institution. |
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(c) Each institution of higher education shall make the |
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institution's campus sexual assault policy available to students, |
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faculty, and staff members by: |
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(1) including the policy in the institution's student |
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handbook and personnel handbook; and |
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(2) creating and maintaining a web page on the |
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institution's Internet website dedicated solely to the policy. |
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(d) Each institution of higher education shall require each |
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entering freshman or undergraduate transfer student to attend an |
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orientation on the institution's campus sexual assault policy |
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before or during the first semester or term in which the student is |
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enrolled at the institution. The institution shall establish the |
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format and content of the orientation. |
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(e) Each biennium, each institution of higher education |
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shall review the institution's campus sexual assault policy and, |
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with approval of the institution's governing board, revise the |
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policy as necessary. |
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SECTION 2. Section 51.9363, Education Code, as added by |
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this Act, applies beginning with the 2015 fall semester. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |