SB187 - Relating to reporting and providing information regarding discrimination and harassment based on race, color, or ethnicity at public institutions of higher education.

  89R3788 KJE-D     By: Menéndez S.B. No. 187       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to reporting and providing information regarding   discrimination and harassment based on race, color, or ethnicity at   public institutions of higher education.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 51.9795 to read as follows:           Sec.   51.9795.     REPORTING AND INFORMATION REGARDING   DISCRIMINATION AND HARASSMENT BASED ON RACE, COLOR, OR ETHNICITY.     (a)   In this section, "institution of higher education" has the   meaning assigned by Section 61.003.           (b)     An institution of higher education shall develop and   implement a process for students enrolled at the institution to   submit complaints to the institution regarding incidents of   discrimination or harassment based on race, color, or ethnicity at   the institution. The process must include:                 (1)     the ability to submit a complaint through an   Internet website and a hotline maintained by the institution; and                 (2)  an option to remain anonymous.           (c)     Each year, an institution of higher education shall   inform freshman and returning students regarding:                 (1)     the institution's policy prohibiting   discrimination or harassment based on race, color, or ethnicity;                 (2)     the process for submitting a complaint regarding   incidents of discrimination or harassment based on race, color, or   ethnicity at the institution to:                       (A)  the institution;                       (B)     the United States Department of Education's   Office for Civil Rights; and                       (C)  the institution's accrediting agency; and                 (3)     the number of complaints regarding incidents of   discrimination or harassment based on race, color, or ethnicity at   the institution received by each entity described by Subdivision   (2) during the preceding academic year, to the extent available.           (d)     An institution of higher education shall post in a   publicly accessible location on the institution's Internet website   the information described by Subsection (c)(3).          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   academic 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.