Bill Text: TX HR664 | 2017-2018 | 85th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Requesting the governor to direct the Texas Rangers to investigate Baylor University.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2017-03-22 - Referred to Higher Education [HR664 Detail]
Download: Texas-2017-HR664-Introduced.html
| By: Gutierrez | H.R. No. 664 | |
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| WHEREAS, Over the last year, we have discovered the most | ||
| horrific facts concerning rampant sexual assault and efforts by | ||
| Baylor University administration to discourage and retaliate | ||
| against sexual assault victims. | ||
| WHEREAS, To date, Baylor University has admitted that not | ||
| less than 34 football players assaulted over 52 young women over the | ||
| span of 5 years. As important is the staggering admission by Baylor | ||
| University that at least 125 young students reported being sexually | ||
| assaulted - and these are non-football related assaults. Baylor's | ||
| own Title IX Coordinator says the number is even higher. | ||
| WHEREAS, The level of cover-up that has been both reported | ||
| and also admitted at this point is appalling. | ||
| WHEREAS, Widespread evidence of obstruction of justice has | ||
| come out over the last several months. We have learned examples of | ||
| how Baylor University officials "failed to investigate, or | ||
| adequately investigate, allegations of sexual violence." In fact, | ||
| Baylor failed to examine numerous allegations for 2 years and kept | ||
| allegations on file for as long as 4 years. | ||
| WHEREAS, Baylor University's chief administrator who oversaw | ||
| the Baylor Police Department has admitted that files were concealed | ||
| by the department. While stating that the Police Chief was fired as | ||
| a result, Baylor's own website states the Chief retired. | ||
| WHEREAS, Baylor University has resisted all efforts to | ||
| provide the public with information which would reveal the conduct | ||
| of senior administrators, and instead attempted to put the blame | ||
| entirely on football coaches. Baylor's Police Department operated | ||
| under authority of Texas statutes, yet Baylor University has | ||
| successfully claimed it is not subject to the same Freedom of | ||
| Information Requests that apply to local police departments. | ||
| Although Baylor coaches certainly deserve blame, they are not | ||
| solely responsible for the over 125+ female students that were | ||
| wrongfully treated. | ||
| RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas | ||
| Legislature urge Governor Abbott to direct the Texas Rangers with | ||
| investigating the obstruction of justice surrounding the sexual | ||
| assault of young female students at Baylor University. | ||
| RESOLVED, That the chief clerk of the house forward official | ||
| copies of this resolution to the Governor of Texas. | ||
