Signed by Governor Kim Reynolds

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to amend and pass a bill that limits the types of diversity and inclusion training school districts and government entities may offer.

Highlights:

• Authorizes agency, governmental entity, or governmental subdivision to continue training that fosters a workplace and learning environment that is respectful of all employees. However, the head of an agency, governmental entity, or governmental subdivision will ensure that any mandatory staff training provided by an employee of a governmental entity does not teach, advocate, act upon, or promote divisive concepts (Sec. 1-2).

• Classifies “divisive concepts” to include all of the following (Sec. 2-1.a):

• That one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex;

• That the United States of America and the state of Iowa are fundamentally or systemically racist or sexist;

• That an individual, by the individual’s race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;

• That an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of the individual’s race or sex;

• That members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex;

• That an individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by the individual’s race or sex;

• That an individual, by the individual’s race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;

• That any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of that individual’s race or sex;

• That meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race; and

• Any other form of race or sex scapegoating or any other form of race or sex stereotyping.

• Authorizes each public institution of higher education to continue training that fosters a workplace and learning environment that is respectful of all employees and students. However, the president, vice presidents, deans, department directors, or any other administrator of a public institution of higher education will ensure that any mandatory staff or student training provided by an employee of the institution or by a contractor hired by the institution does not teach, advocate, act upon, or promote divisive concepts (Sec. 2-2).

• Authorizes each school district to continue training that fosters a workplace and learning environment that is respectful of all employees and students. However, the superintendent of each school district shall ensure that any curriculum or mandatory staff or student training provided by an employee of the school district or by a contractor hired by the school district does not teach, advocate, act upon or promote divisive concepts (Sec. 3-2).

• Requires school district diversity and inclusion efforts to discourage students of the school district from discriminating against another by color, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, political ideology, or any other characteristic (Sec. 3-3).

• Prohibits this act from being used to justify the following (Sec. 3-4):

• Inhibit or violate the first amendment rights of students or faculty, or undermine a school district’s duty to protect to the fullest degree intellectual freedom and free expression. The intellectual vitality of students and faculty shall not be infringed under this section.

• Prevent a school district from promoting racial, cultural, ethnic, intellectual, or academic diversity or inclusiveness, provided such efforts are consistent with the provisions of this section, chapter 216, and other applicable law.

• Prohibit discussing divisive concepts as part of a larger course of academic instruction.

• Create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the state of Iowa, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

• Prohibit a state or federal court or agency of competent jurisdiction from ordering a training or remedial action containing discussions of divisive concepts as a remedial action due to a finding of discrimination, including discrimination based on race or sex.

• Establishes a public school employee or official, acting within the scope of the person’s professional ethics, if any, cannot be dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred, subject to termination or nonrenewal of a teaching contract or an extracurricular contract, or otherwise retaliated against for acting to protect a student for engaging in conduct authorized under this section, or refusing to infringe upon student conduct that is protected by this section (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that limits the types of diversity and inclusion training school districts and government entities may offer.

Highlights:

• Authorizes agency, governmental entity, or governmental subdivision to continue training that fosters a workplace and learning environment that is respectful of all employees. However, the head of an agency, governmental entity, or governmental subdivision will ensure that any mandatory staff training provided by an employee of a governmental entity does not teach, advocate, act upon, or promote divisive concepts (Sec. 1-2).

• Classifies “divisive concepts” to include all of the following (Sec. 2-1.a):

• That one race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex;

• That the United States of America and the state of Iowa are fundamentally or systemically racist or sexist;

• That an individual, by the individual’s race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;

• That an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of the individual’s race or sex;

• That members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex;

• That an individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by the individual’s race or sex;

• That an individual, by the individual’s race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex;

• That any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of that individual’s race or sex;

• That meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race; and

• Any other form of race or sex scapegoating or any other form of race or sex stereotyping.

• Authorizes each public institution of higher education to continue training that fosters a workplace and learning environment that is respectful of all employees and students. However, the president, vice presidents, deans, department directors, or any other administrator of a public institution of higher education will ensure that any mandatory staff or student training provided by an employee of the institution or by a contractor hired by the institution does not teach, advocate, act upon, or promote divisive concepts (Sec. 2-2).

• Authorizes each school district to continue training that fosters a workplace and learning environment that is respectful of all employees and students. However, the superintendent of each school district shall ensure that any curriculum or mandatory staff or student training provided by an employee of the school district or by a contractor hired by the school district does not teach, advocate, act upon or promote divisive concepts (Sec. 3-2).

• Requires school district diversity and inclusion efforts to discourage students of the school district from discriminating against another by color, race, ethnicity, sex, gender, political ideology, or any other characteristic (Sec. 3-3).

• Prohibits this act from being used to justify the following (Sec. 3-4):

• Inhibit or violate the first amendment rights of students or faculty, or undermine a school district’s duty to protect to the fullest degree intellectual freedom and free expression. The intellectual vitality of students and faculty shall not be infringed under this section.

• Prevent a school district from promoting racial, cultural, ethnic, intellectual, or academic diversity or inclusiveness, provided such efforts are consistent with the provisions of this section, chapter 216, and other applicable law.

• Prohibit discussing divisive concepts as part of a larger course of academic instruction.

• Create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the state of Iowa, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

• Prohibit a state or federal court or agency of competent jurisdiction from ordering a training or remedial action containing discussions of divisive concepts as a remedial action due to a finding of discrimination, including discrimination based on race or sex.

• Establishes a public school employee or official, acting within the scope of the person’s professional ethics, if any, cannot be dismissed, suspended, disciplined, reassigned, transferred, subject to termination or nonrenewal of a teaching contract or an extracurricular contract, or otherwise retaliated against for acting to protect a student for engaging in conduct authorized under this section, or refusing to infringe upon student conduct that is protected by this section (Sec. 5).

Full Bill Text