Read the full stored bill text
89(R) SB 735 - House Committee Report version - Bill Text
89R31710 GP-D
By: Menéndez, et al.
S.B. No. 735
(Buckley)
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 735:
No.
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to Holocaust education and training for public school
educators and students.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 8, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 8.065 to read as follows:
Sec.
8.065.
COLLABORATION WITH HOLOCAUST MUSEUMS. Each
regional education service center shall on a regular basis
collaborate with one or more of the Holocaust museums in this state
to expand educator training and classroom education opportunities
regarding Holocaust education.
SECTION 2. Section 29.9072, Education Code, is amended by
amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsections (d), (e), and (f) to
read as follows:
(a) In this section, "Holocaust" has the meaning assigned by
Section
448.001
[
449.001
], Government Code.
(d)
Not later than June 1 of each school year, each school
district and open-enrollment charter school shall submit to the
agency a report regarding the Holocaust Remembrance Week
instruction offered by the district or school for that school year
under this section. The report must include the activities,
lessons, and instructional materials used for the instruction.
(e)
As soon as practicable after June 1 of each school year,
the agency shall compile all reports submitted under Subsection (d)
for the school year and submit the compiled information to each
regional education service center and the Texas Holocaust,
Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission.
(f)
Not later than 60 days before the first day of the week
designated by the governor as Holocaust Remembrance Week, the
agency shall provide notice to each school district and
open-enrollment charter school of the week to be known as Holocaust
Remembrance Week in public schools, including the instruction and
reporting requirements under Subsections (c) and (d).
SECTION 3. Subchapter Z, Chapter 29, Education Code, is
amended by adding Section 29.90721 to read as follows:
Sec.
29.90721.
HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE WEEK GRANT PROGRAM.
(a)
In this section:
(1)
"Advisory commission" means the Texas Holocaust,
Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission.
(2)
"Commission" means the Texas Historical
Commission.
(3)
"Holocaust" has the meaning assigned by Section
448.001, Government Code.
(b)
From money appropriated, received from gifts, grants,
or donations, or otherwise available for purposes of this section,
the commission, in coordination with the advisory commission, shall
establish and administer a grant program to provide grants to
school districts and museums, centers, and other relevant
organizations in this state to assist in the implementation of
Holocaust Remembrance Week instruction under Section 29.9072. The
commission may award a grant for purposes of:
(1)
developing optional, age-appropriate lesson plans
for classroom teachers who lack relevant subject matter expertise
regarding the Holocaust;
(2)
sponsoring student field trips to the Holocaust
museums in this state, with priority given to campuses in urban and
rural districts;
(3)
providing training approved by the advisory
commission for educators and for administrators who manage
professional development and teacher training in each district;
(4)
cataloging and expanding relevant audiovisual and
digital classroom resources, including resources maintained by
Holocaust museums in this state; and
(5)
developing, in collaboration with museums,
bilingual curricula to meet the needs of more students in this state
and making the curricula available on the advisory commission's
Internet website.
(c)
The commission, in coordination with the advisory
commission, shall adopt rules as necessary to establish and
administer the grant program under this section.
SECTION 4. Section 29.9072, Education Code, as amended by
this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.
SECTION 5. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Texas Historical Commission, in coordination with
the Texas Holocaust, Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory
Commission, shall establish the grant program required by Section
29.90721, Education Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.