TITLE: Relating to a school district's library collection development policies; authorizing a civil penalty.

SUMMARY: Relating to a school district's library collection development policies; authorizing a civil penalty.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to a school district's library collection development policies; authorizing a civil penalty. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. The heading to Section 33.021, Education Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 33.021. LIBRARY STANDARDS;CIVIL PENALTY.SECTION 2. Section 33.021, Education Code, is amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows: (e) Not later than the 30th day after the date a school district is notified that a library material found in a school library, classroom library, or online catalog does not adhere to the standards adopted under Subsection (c), the district shall remove the material. A superintendent of a school district that does not remove a library material as required by this subsection is liable to the state for a civil penalty in an amount not to exceed $10,000 for each violation. A person commits a separate violation for each library material that is not removed in violation of this subsection except multiple copies of the same library material do not constitute separate violations. The attorney general may investigate any alleged violation of this section and may bring an action to recover the civil penalty described by this subsection. SECTION 3. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. SECTION 4. 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.