By: Hughes, et al. S.B. No. 16     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the purpose of public institutions of higher education   and a prohibition on compelling students enrolled at those   institutions to adopt certain beliefs.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subtitle A, Title 3, Education Code, is amended   by adding Chapter 50 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 50.  HIGHER EDUCATION PURPOSE          Sec. 50.001.  HIGHER EDUCATION PURPOSE. A public   institution of higher education must be committed to creating an   environment of:                (1)  intellectual inquiry and academic freedom so that   all students are equipped for participation in the workforce and   the betterment of society; and                (2)  intellectual diversity so that all students are   respected and educated regardless of race, sex, or ethnicity or   social, political, or religious background or belief.          SECTION 2.  Section 51.942, Education Code, is amended by   adding Subsection (c-1) to read as follows:          (c-1)  For purposes of Subsection (c)(5), good cause for   taking disciplinary action against a faculty member, including   revoking the tenure of the faculty member, includes the faculty   member's violation of Section 51.982.          SECTION 3.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is   amended by adding Section 51.982 to read as follows:          Sec. 51.982.  PROHIBITION ON COMPELLING CERTAIN   BELIEFS.  (a)  In this section:                (1)  "Coordinating board" means the Texas Higher   Education Coordinating Board.                (2)  "Institution of higher education" and "university   system" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003.          (b)  A faculty member of an institution of higher education   may not compel or attempt to compel a student enrolled at the   institution to adopt a belief that any race, sex, or ethnicity or   social, political, or religious belief is inherently superior to   any other race, sex, ethnicity, or belief.          (c)  If an institution of higher education determines that a   faculty member of the institution has violated this section, the   institution shall discharge the faculty member.          (d)  The coordinating board by rule shall develop a procedure   for an institution of higher education to receive and review   complaints regarding a violation of this section by a faculty   member of the institution. The procedure must:                (1)  take into consideration due process rights under   the United States Constitution and the Texas Constitution; and                (2)  include a procedure by which the complainant or   the faculty member who is the subject of the complaint may appeal   the institution's determination regarding whether the faculty   member violated this section to:                      (A)  the chancellor or other executive officer of   the institution's system, if the institution is a component of a   university system; or                      (B)  the president or other executive officer of   the institution, if the institution is not a component of a   university system.          (e)  Each institution of higher education shall implement   the procedure developed under Subsection (d).          (f)  Not later than December 1 of each year, each institution   of higher education shall submit to the legislature and the   coordinating board a report on the complaints received by the   institution under the procedure implemented under Subsection (e)   during the preceding academic year.          SECTION 4.  Section 51.982(c), Education Code, as added by   this Act, applies only to a person who enters into or renews an   employment contract as a faculty member at a public institution of   higher education on or after the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 5.  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, 2023.