The bill introduces new provisions to the Texas Education Code and Health and Safety Code that prohibit public primary and secondary schools, institutions of higher education, and other entities from conducting studies or surveys on children's sexual behavior without explicit parental consent. Specifically, Section 38.0044 of the Education Code and Section 51.9762 for institutions of higher education establish that such studies or surveys are not permitted, and violations of these provisions are classified as state jail felonies. Additionally, violators may face civil penalties ranging from $1,000 to $5,000 for each child unlawfully included in the study or survey, with the attorney general authorized to investigate and collect these penalties.
Furthermore, the bill adds Subchapter Z to the Health and Safety Code, which reinforces the requirement for parental consent before conducting any studies or surveys on children's sexual behavior. It also mandates that any information indicating child abuse or neglect discovered during such studies must be reported according to existing laws. Similar to the provisions in the Education Code, violations of this section are also classified as state jail felonies, and civil penalties apply. The bill is set to take effect on September 1, 2025.
Statutes affected: Introduced: ()