By: Menéndez, Campbell S.B. No. 735       King     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to Holocaust education and training provided to students   enrolled at public schools and public institutions of higher   education.          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.  Subchapter C, Chapter 61, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 61.0767 to read as follows:          Sec. 61.0767.  EDUCATOR PREPARATION PILOT PROGRAM TO IMPROVE   DELIVERY OF HOLOCAUST EDUCATION. (a) The board shall establish a   pilot program at institutions of higher education selected by the   board to train students enrolled in an educator preparation program   to provide more effective instruction related to the history and   remembrance of the Holocaust. The board may adopt rules as   necessary to administer this section.          (b)  An institution of higher education selected under this   section must have an educator preparation program approved by the   State Board for Educator Certification or be affiliated with a   program approved by the State Board for Educator Certification.          (c)  At least 50 percent of the institutions of higher   education selected by the board must be located in an area or likely   to graduate educators who will teach in a public school in an area   where the applicable school district has demonstrated low   participation in Holocaust Remembrance Week instruction.          (d)  The board shall collaborate with the Texas Holocaust,   Genocide, and Antisemitism Advisory Commission to establish   minimum curriculum requirements, guidelines, and procedures   necessary for the implementation of the pilot program.          (e)  The board shall use any funds appropriated or otherwise   made available for purposes of the pilot program and may accept   gifts, grants, and donations to fund the pilot program.          (f)  The pilot program shall operate for four full academic   years.          (g)  An institution of higher education selected for the   pilot program shall annually report to the board in the manner   prescribed by the board data and information regarding the   operation of the pilot program.          (h)  The report required by Subsection (g) must contain, with   respect to the preceding academic year:                (1)  a description of the manner in which the selected   institution complied with the purpose of the pilot program and any   difficulties encountered in complying with that purpose, including   timelines related to implementing the pilot program;                (2)  data regarding the institution's students   receiving instruction under the pilot program through an educator   preparation program;                (3)  information regarding any third-party entities or   organizations the institution collaborates with to deliver   instruction under the pilot program through an educator preparation   program; and                (4)  a survey of educator preparation program students   and faculty who participated in the pilot program at the   institution, including feedback regarding the results of the pilot   program and information regarding the marketability and subsequent   teaching careers of participating students.          (i)  The board shall compile a biennial report based on the   data and information received under Subsection (g) regarding the   operation of the pilot program and the results of the survey of   educator preparation program students and faculty who participated   in the pilot program at each of the selected institutions during the   preceding biennium. Not later than September 1 of each   odd-numbered year, the board shall deliver a copy of the report to   the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of   representatives, and the chair of each standing committee of the   legislature having primary jurisdiction over higher education.          (j)  The biennial report produced by the board before   September 1, 2029, must include a recommendation regarding whether   the pilot program should be continued, expanded, or terminated.          (k)  Before September 1, 2031, the board shall conduct a   final survey of educator preparation program students and faculty   who participated in the pilot program at the selected institutions   at any time during the operation of the program, including feedback   regarding the results of the pilot program and information   regarding the marketability and teaching careers of participating   students. The board shall publish the results of the survey on its   Internet website.          (l)  The pilot program concludes and this section expires   December 1, 2031.          SECTION 5.  Section 29.9072, Education Code, as amended by   this Act, applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.          SECTION 6.  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 7.  The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board   shall select public institutions of higher education for the pilot   program required under Section 61.0767, Education Code, as added by   this Act, not later than May 1, 2026.          SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.