(AP) -- AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - A legislator from El Paso has criticized proposed history and social studies standards for public schools as being unfair to Hispanics.

Rep. Norma Chavez raised the issue Wednesday in Austin before the State Board of Education.

Chavez says it's "as though Hispanics don't exist in many of these standards."

Chavez seeks a meeting between board members and Hispanic lawmakers before the panel in January takes its initial vote on social studies standards. A final vote is expected in March.

Board member Pat Hardy of Weatherford said Chavez seemed to be saying "that because 40 percent of our population is Hispanic, then 40 percent of all of the historical characters need to be Hispanic."

Chavez disagreed, saying that the board was not looking at the entire history of Texas and accurately reflecting what should be included.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Copyright ©2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)