Bill adds antisemitism to the school bullying definition

The text as introduced · 344 words

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.