Bill > HB495

This bill, known as the "Create A Respectful And Open Workplace For Natural (CROWN) Hair Act," aims to prohibit discrimination based on hairstyles in the workplace and schools in Mississippi. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Prohibiting employers, schools, and administrators from creating dress codes or policies that restrict natural hairstyles, such as afros, braids, twists, and locks. 2. Prohibiting discrimination against individuals based on their natural hairstyles, including in terms of compensation, promotions, employment opportunities, or disciplinary actions. 3. Providing legal remedies, including the ability to recover unpaid wages, liquidated damages, compensatory damages, and attorney's fees, for individuals who have faced discrimination due to their natural hairstyles. 4. Amending existing state laws to include natural hairstyles as a protected characteristic, ensuring fair treatment of employees and applicants in the state personnel system. The bill is intended to address the historical and ongoing discrimination faced by individuals, particularly those of African American and Latina descent, due to the perception of certain hairstyles as unprofessional or undesirable. By prohibiting such discriminatory practices, the bill aims to promote fairness, equity, and equal opportunity in the workplace and educational settings.

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http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2023/pdf/history/HB/HB0495.xml