summary
Introduced
01/02/2024
01/02/2024
In Committee
03/15/2024
03/15/2024
Crossed Over
02/14/2024
02/14/2024
Passed
Dead
04/15/2024
04/15/2024
Introduced Session
Potential new amendment
2024 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Create a new section of KRS Chapter 164 to define terms; provide that a student or employee of a public postsecondary education institution shall not be penalized, discriminated against, or receive any adverse treatment due to the individual's refusal to support or endorse any divisive concept; provide that a student or employee of a public postsecondary education institution shall not be required to endorse a specific ideology or political viewpoint to be eligible for hiring, contract renewal, tenure, promotion, or graduation and prohibit an institution from inquiring into the individual's political or social viewpoints; provide that any person aggrieved by a violation of this Act has a cause of action against the institution for damages and costs of no less than $1,000 and no more than $100,000 per violation; waive sovereign, governmental, and qualified immunity; require the job duties of any individual employed in a diversity, equity, and inclusion role to include the promotion of intellectual diversity; provide that nothing in the section shall be interpreted to infringe upon designated rights of an institution's ability to comply with state or federal law or accreditation standards; require each public postsecondary education institution to conduct a survey in 2025 and 2027 of the institution's students and employees to assess the campus climate with regard to diversity of thought and the respondents' comfort level in speaking freely on campus, regardless of political affiliation or ideology.
AI Summary
This bill creates new provisions in Kentucky law regarding postsecondary institutions. The key points are:
1. It prohibits public postsecondary institutions from penalizing, discriminating against, or treating adversely any student or employee who refuses to support or endorse certain "discriminatory concepts" defined in the bill, such as the inherent superiority of one race or sex over another.
2. It prohibits public postsecondary institutions from requiring students or employees to endorse a specific ideology or political viewpoint to be eligible for hiring, tenure, promotion, etc.
3. It allows individuals aggrieved by violations of the bill's provisions to sue the institution for damages of $1,000 to $100,000 per violation.
4. It requires institutions to include certain free speech information and resources in new student orientation programs.
5. It requires institutions to publish course descriptions, syllabi, and reading lists online.
6. It requires institutions to conduct surveys in 2025 and 2027 to assess campus climate regarding diversity of thought and free speech.
Committee Categories
Education
Sponsors (12)
Mike Wilson (R)*,
Gary Boswell (R),
Matt Deneen (R),
Don Douglas (R),
Stephen Meredith (R),
Robby Mills (R),
John Schickel (R),
Damon Thayer (R),
Lindsey Tichenor (R),
Phillip Wheeler (R),
Gex Williams (R),
Max Wise (R),
Last Action
posted for passage for concurrence in House Committee Substitute (1) (on 04/12/2024)
Taxonomy
Civil Rights, Minority Issues, and Civil Liberties
- ‐ Freedom of Speech and Religion
Education
- ‐ Higher Education
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
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