HB295 - Relating to including antisemitism in the definition of bullying for the purpose of school discipline policies.

  89R3986 BCH-D     By: Shaheen H.B. No. 295       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to including antisemitism in the definition of bullying   for the purpose of school discipline policies.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 37.0832(a), Education Code, is amended   by amending Subdivision (1) and adding Subdivision (3) to read as   follows:                (1)  "Bullying":                      (A)  means a single significant act or a pattern   of acts by one or more students directed at another student that   exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or   verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or   physical conduct that satisfies the applicability requirements   provided by Subsection (a-1), and that:                            (i)  has the effect or will have the effect   of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or   placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person   or of damage to the student's property;                            (ii)  is sufficiently severe, persistent, or   pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating,   threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student;                            (iii)  materially and substantially   disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a   classroom or school; or                            (iv)  infringes on the rights of the victim   at school; and                      (B)  includes cyberbullying and antisemitism .                 (3)     "Antisemitism" means conduct described by   Paragraph (1)(A) that is based on a certain perception of Jews that   may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. The term includes   rhetorical and physical acts of antisemitism directed toward Jewish   or non-Jewish individuals or their property or toward Jewish   community institutions and religious facilities. Examples of   antisemitism are included with the International Holocaust   Remembrance Alliance's "Working Definition of Antisemitism"   adopted on May 26, 2016.          SECTION 2.  This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026   school 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.