HB+305+Texas+Legislature+81st+Session


 * HB 305**


 * Introduction**

The House Bill 305 ([]) was introduced to the Texas

Legislature by Jessica Farrar to the Committee of Public Education. The bill was filed on November 20th, 2006, and has yet to be reviewed by the out of

house committee. The bill was however, read and referred to the Committe of Public Education. The bill concerns prohibition of discrimination in a public

education setting.


 * Author**

House Bill 305 was introduced by Jessica Farrar ( []),who is a democratic member of the

Houseof Representatives. Farrar was born November 26th, 1966 and is currently in her 13th year as representative of District 148. Farrar has been known

to take on controversial bills, such as her more recent project to pass a bill recognizing postpartum psychosis as a defense to mothers who have murdered

their children.


 * HB 305**

House Bill 305 begins with the design to amend the Education Code. The bill proposes the addition of section 1.0021, an anti-discriminatory clause. In

this section, discrimination in public education is prohibited. This definition of discrimination however, includes "sexual preference," namely

heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality. The second part of the the anti-discriminatory clause states that public education institutions, and the

employees that work there cannot discriminate against a student on the grounds of ethnicity, color, gender, gender identity, sexual preference, disability,

religion, national origin of the student, or of the student's parents. This bill is intended to remove some of the discrimination towards students

concerning many public education institutions, where perhaps sexual preference is expected to be aligned with the majority.

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 * Timeline**

11/20/2006 HB 305 Filed.

1/31/2007 HB 305 Read for the first time

1/31/2007 HB 305 Referred to Public Education


 * Opinion**

I believe HB 305 should definitely pass. America has been attempting to remove discrimination for decades, and where else better to remove it than

our schools where young people learn many of their lessons about life. Prohibition of discrimination in schools will make life easier for those who

choose alternitive life styles, and will help those who are more conventionally determined to interact, learn, and respect these people.


 * Resources**

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