Bill Text: WV SB273 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibiting certain divisive acts or concepts from schools, state agencies and any groups receiving state funding
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2024-01-11 - To Judiciary [SB273 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2024-SB273-Introduced.html
FISCAL NOTE
2024 REGULAR SESSION
Introduced
Senate Bill 273
By Senator Karnes
[Introduced January 11, 2024; referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary; and then to the Committee on Finance]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new section, designated §5-11-9b; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §11B-2-33; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §18-2-44, all relating to prohibiting discriminatory divisive acts in the workplace and adding to the definition of the Human Rights Act; prohibiting the teaching of divisive acts in West Virginia schools; and prohibiting state funding to agencies that promote divisive acts.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
CHAPTER 5. GENERAL POWERS AND AUTHORITY OF THE GOVERNOR, SECRETARY OF STATE AND ATTORNEY GENERAL; BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS; MISCELLANEOUS AGENCIES, COMMISSIONS, OFFICES, PROGRAMS, ETC.
ARTICLE 11. HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION.
§5-11-9b. Divisive acts classified as prohibited discrimination.
It is the policy of the State of West Virginia not to promote race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating in the workforce, and not to allow grant funds to be used for these purposes. In addition, state contractors will not be permitted to inculcate such views in their employees.
For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Divisive concepts" means the concepts that (1) One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex; (2) the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist; (3) an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously; (4) an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex; (5) members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex; (6) an individual’s moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex; (7) an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex; (8) any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex; or (9) meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race. The term "divisive concepts" also includes any other form of race or sex stereotyping or any other form of race or sex scapegoating.
(b) "Race or sex stereotyping" means ascribing character traits, values, moral and ethical codes, privileges, status, or beliefs to a race or sex, or to an individual because of his or her race or sex.
(c) "Race or sex scapegoating" means assigning fault, blame, or bias to a race or sex, or to members of a race or sex because of their race or sex. It similarly encompasses any claim that, consciously or unconsciously, and by virtue of his or her race or sex, members of any race are inherently racist or are inherently inclined to oppress others, or that members of a sex are inherently sexist or inclined to oppress others.
CHAPTER 11B. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE.
ARTICLE 2. STATE BUDGET OFFICE.
§11B-2-33. Money to agencies who promote "divisive acts" prohibited.
It is the policy of the State of West Virginia to prohibit state funding for state agencies that promote race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating, and it is prohibited for any state funding to go towards West Virginia agencies that promote "divisive acts."
For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Divisive concepts" means the concepts that (1) One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex; (2) the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist; (3) an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously; (4) an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex; (5) members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex; (6) an individual's moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex; (7) an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex; (8) any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex; or (9) meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race. The term "divisive concepts" also includes any other form of race or sex stereotyping or any other form of race or sex scapegoating.
(b) "Race or sex stereotyping" means ascribing character traits, values, moral and ethical codes, privileges, status, or beliefs to a race or sex, or to an individual because of his or her race or sex.
(c) "Race or sex scapegoating" means assigning fault, blame, or bias to a race or sex, or to members of a race or sex because of their race or sex. It similarly encompasses any claim that, consciously or unconsciously, and by virtue of his or her race or sex, members of any race are inherently racist or are inherently inclined to oppress others, or that members of a sex are inherently sexist or inclined to oppress others.
CHAPTER 18. EDUCATION.
ARTICLE 2. STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.
§18-2-44. Curriculum promoting "divisive acts" prohibited.
It is the policy of the State Board of Education of West Virginia not to promote race or sex stereotyping or scapegoating in schools, and not to allow schools to use curricula that promotes "divisive acts."
For the purposes of this section:
(a) "Divisive concepts" means the concepts that (1) One race or sex is inherently superior to another race or sex; (2) the United States is fundamentally racist or sexist; (3) an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, is inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously; (4) an individual should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment solely or partly because of his or her race or sex; (5) members of one race or sex cannot and should not attempt to treat others without respect to race or sex; (6) an individual's moral character is necessarily determined by his or her race or sex; (7) an individual, by virtue of his or her race or sex, bears responsibility for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race or sex; (8) any individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex; or (9) meritocracy or traits such as a hard work ethic are racist or sexist, or were created by a particular race to oppress another race. The term "divisive concepts" also includes any other form of race or sex stereotyping or any other form of race or sex scapegoating.
(b) "Race or sex stereotyping" means ascribing character traits, values, moral and ethical codes, privileges, status, or beliefs to a race or sex, or to an individual because of his or her race or sex.
(c) "Race or sex scapegoating" means assigning fault, blame, or bias to a race or sex, or to members of a race or sex because of their race or sex. It similarly encompasses any claim that, consciously or unconsciously, and by virtue of his or her race or sex, members of any race are inherently racist or are inherently inclined to oppress others, or that members of a sex are inherently sexist or inclined to oppress others.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to prohibit discriminatory "divisive acts" in the workplace, to prohibit the teaching of "divisive acts" in West Virginia schools, and to prohibit state funding to agencies who promote "divisive acts."
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
