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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the regulation of certain facilities and activities of |
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political subdivisions, including public school districts, and |
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open-enrollment charter schools. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 250, Local Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 250. MISCELLANEOUS REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF |
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MUNICIPALITIES, [AND] COUNTIES, AND OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENTS |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 250, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 250.009 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 250.009. REGULATION OF CERTAIN FACILITIES AND |
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ACTIVITIES. (a) Each multiple-occupancy restroom, shower, and |
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changing facility of a political subdivision, including a public |
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school district, or an open-enrollment charter school must be |
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designated for and used only by persons of the same sex as stated on |
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a person's: |
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(1) birth certificate; or |
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(2) driver's license, personal identification |
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certificate, or license to carry a handgun, issued to the person by |
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the Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas. |
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(b) In an effort to ensure the right of each person to |
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participate in athletic activities and have access to restrooms, |
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locker rooms, showers, and changing facilities with privacy, |
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dignity, and safety, and except in accordance with federal law as |
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enacted by Congress and interpreted in controlling federal case law |
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and state law as enacted by the legislature and interpreted in |
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controlling case law of this state, a political subdivision, |
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including a public school district, or an open-enrollment charter |
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school may not adopt or enforce an order, ordinance, policy, or |
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other measure that: |
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(1) relates to the designation or use of a |
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multiple-occupancy restroom, shower, or changing facility; |
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(2) requires a private entity to adopt, or prohibits |
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the entity from adopting, a policy on the designation or use of the |
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entity's multiple-occupancy restrooms, showers, or changing |
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facilities; or |
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(3) allows a person whose birth certificate states |
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their sex as male to participate in athletic activities designated |
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for a person whose birth certificate states their sex as female. |
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(c) A private entity that leases or contracts to use a |
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building owned or leased by a political subdivision, including a |
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public school district, or an open-enrollment charter school is not |
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subject to Subsection (a). A political subdivision, including a |
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public school district, or an open-enrollment charter school may |
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not require the private entity to adopt, or prohibit the private |
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entity from adopting, a policy on the designation or use of |
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restrooms, showers, or changing facilities located in the building. |
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(d) This section may be enforced only through an action |
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instituted by the attorney general for mandamus or injunctive |
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relief. The attorney general may recover costs and attorney's fees |
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related to enforcing this section. |
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(e) This section does not preclude a political subdivision, |
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including a public school district, or an open-enrollment charter |
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school from adopting an ordinance, order, policy, or other measure |
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regarding the use of a restroom, shower, or changing facility by a |
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person not of the designated sex to: |
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(1) assist in the restroom, shower, or changing |
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facility: |
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(A) a person with a disability; |
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(B) a child under the age of eight; or |
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(C) an elderly person. |
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(2) be assisted in the restroom, shower, or changing |
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facility, if the person is a person described by Subdivision |
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(1)(A), (B), or (C); |
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(3) render medical or other emergency assistance; or |
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(4) maintain the restroom, shower, or changing |
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facility when the restroom, shower, or changing facility is not in |
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use. |
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(f) This section does not prohibit a political subdivision, |
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including a public school district, or an open-enrollment charter |
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school from providing an accommodation, including a |
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single-occupancy restroom, shower, or changing facility or the |
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controlled use of a faculty restroom, shower, or changing facility, |
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on request due to special circumstances. |
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SECTION 3. Subchapter Z, Chapter 2252, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2252.909 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2252.909. CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN POLICIES |
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PROHIBITED. In awarding a contract for the purchase of goods or |
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services, a political subdivision, including a public school |
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district, or an open-enrollment charter school may not consider |
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whether a private entity competing for the contract has adopted a |
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policy relating to the designation or use of the entity's bathrooms |
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or changing facilities. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect on the 91st day after the last day of the |
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legislative session. |