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.