A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to prohibiting discrimination by public institutions of

higher education against faculty members and students based on

their conduct of research relating to intelligent design.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 51, Education Code, is

amended by adding Section 51.979 to read as follows:

Sec. 51.979. PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATION BASED ON

RESEARCH RELATED TO INTELLIGENT DESIGN. An institution of higher

education may not discriminate against or penalize in any manner,

especially with regard to employment or academic support, a faculty

member or student based on the faculty member's or student's conduct

of research relating to the theory of intelligent design or other

alternate theories of the origination and development of organisms.

SECTION 2. 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. If this

Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this