Bill > SB85

This bill requires each state agency to review its policies and practices to ensure they do not contribute to institutional racism, which refers to systemic biases embedded within an organization's operations that disadvantage certain racial groups. Agencies must report their findings and adopt guidelines by January 1, 2017, aimed at improving fairness and opportunity in state government and service delivery, promoting inclusion by assessing potential inequitable effects before decisions are made, encouraging culturally and linguistically appropriate services, fostering respectful treatment of historically discriminated-against groups, and extending these guidelines to contractors performing services for the state. The director will then periodically review agency compliance with these adopted guidelines, potentially using contracted services for monitoring.