Texas may soon have a bathroom bill directed toward transgender people
Senate Bill 6 (SB6), the Texas Privacy Act, was filed Jan. 5. Written by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, the bill is “relating to regulations and policies for entering or using a bathroom or changing facility; authorizing a civil penalty; increasing criminal penalties.”
The bill, which is also being referred to as the “bathroom bill,” was read for the first time Jan. 24 and referred to State Affairs. SB6 is currently in the Senate Committee, which indicates that the bill has only passed the first of seven stages of becoming a law. If passed, the bill will go into effect Sept. 1.
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has issued SB6 as top priority. Patrick issued a statement Jan. 5 in support of the “bathroom bill.”
“This legislation codifies what has been common practice in Texas and everywhere else forever — that men and women should use separate, designated bathrooms,” Patrick wrote. “SB6 also ensures that businesses have the freedom to determine their own bathroom policies and that no public school can institute a bathroom policy that allows boys to go in girls restrooms, showers and locker rooms and girls to go in boys restrooms, showers and locker rooms.”
Patrick went on to state, “This issue is not about discrimination — it’s about public safety, protecting businesses and common sense. I congratulate Sen. Kolkhorst for filing SB6 and for her commitment to protecting the privacy of Texans and keeping them safe.”
Another bill that has passed the first stage of becoming a law is SB242, which was written by Senator Konni Burton and filed Nov. 17, 2016. SB242 was read for the first time and referred to the Senate Education Committee Jan. 30, 2017.
The purpose of SB242 is in relation “to the right of a child’s parent to public school records and information concerning the child.” The bill states that parents have “full information regarding the school activities of the parent’s child and disclosure of any general knowledge regarding the parent’s child possessed by an employee of a school district, including general knowledge that relates to any of the categories of information addressed in Subdivision (1).”
The bill also suggests that if an employee knows of information that could harm the child and does not say anything, the employee will face discipline.
People and organizations, such as Equality Texas, are speaking out against SB242. Board Chairman Steven M. Rudner issued a statement on the Equality Texas website about why the organization opposes the bill.
“We believe Sen. Burton’s legislation would essentially destroy protected communications between a student and an educator,” Rudner wrote. “SB 242’s stated intent would force the outing of LGBTQ students.”
SB6‘s text can be found at http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/85R/billtext/pdf/SB00006I.pdf.
Text for SB242 is available at http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/85R/billtext/pdf/SB00242I.pdf#navpanes=0.
