Bill > HB415

This bill enacts the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act, which prohibits discrimination in public primary and secondary schools based on hair texture and protective hair styles associated with race. The bill defines "race" to include traits such as hair texture and protective hairstyles like braids, locks, and twists, and applies to various types of public schools including district schools, community schools, STEM schools, and college-preparatory boarding schools. Under the new law, no public school can discriminate against a student with respect to any program or activity due to hair-related characteristics associated with race. The bill provides students who experience such discrimination with the right to file a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction. By expanding the legal definition of racial discrimination to include hair-related traits, the bill aims to protect students from unfair treatment based on their natural hair and cultural hairstyles. The legislation amends several existing sections of the Ohio Revised Code to incorporate these protections and ensure consistent application across different types of public educational institutions.

Education

https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislation/136/hb415