Bill > S0368

This bill, titled the "Ending Illegal Discrimination and Restoring Merit-Based Opportunity Act," aims to prohibit diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts across all state offices, departments, political subdivisions, and higher education institutions in South Carolina. The bill defines promoting DEI as any attempt to influence hiring practices based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation outside of color-blind and sex-neutral processes. State entities are banned from establishing DEI offices, hiring DEI employees, compelling DEI statements, or giving preferential treatment based on these characteristics. The legislation requires institutions to discipline employees who violate these restrictions and mandates annual compliance reporting to the General Assembly. Institutions of higher learning are granted some exceptions for academic coursework, research, student organizations, and activities designed to enhance student achievement without regard to protected characteristics. The bill also requires contractors and grant recipients to certify they do not operate DEI programs, and it directs the Attorney General to develop a complaint process and submit recommendations for enforcing civil rights laws. Notably, the bill explicitly protects veterans' employment preferences and First Amendment speech, and it takes effect for the 2025-2026 fiscal and school years. The underlying policy goal is to promote individual initiative, excellence, and hard work while preventing what the bill's sponsors view as discriminatory practices.

Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0368&session=126&summary=B