The Kentucky capitol building in Frankfort.
By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Kentucky House Bill 4, which would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives at Kentucky public universities, passed in a floor vote 81-18 and had its second reading in the Kentucky Senate.
The bill — sponsored by Northern Kentucky Republican Jennifer Decker — “prohibit a public postsecondary education institution from providing [, or influencing,] differential treatment or benefits on the basis of an individual’s religion, race, sex, color, or national origin.”
On Wednesday, March 5, members of the Kentucky House debated for more than an hour, Kentucky Lantern reports. Democratic Representative George Brown Jr. quoted the famous “I Have a Dream” speech, asking fellow House members to “think long and hard” about passing the bill.
“I would ask that the members of this body think long and hard — long and hard — about turning back the clock on what it is that we have in this state and this country, and that we do not go back to a place and a time that there were people that could just simply be put down because of their work, because of their gender, and not by the content of their character,” Brown said.
Barren County Representative Steve Riley voted “yea” on the proposed law, according to the Legislative Research Commission.
“It’s basically a measure to put everyone on equal footing,” Riley said in a WCLU interview.
The latest version of the bill, updated in a committee substitute, would eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion offices or employees from Kentucky’s public universities and colleges by June 30, directs the state auditor of public accounts to complete compliance audits of universities every four years to see if a university spends money on such policies, and includes a definition of “indoctrinate,” which it says is “to imbue or attempt to imbue another individual with an opinion, point of view, or principle without consideration of any alternative opinion, point of view, or principle.” according to the Kentucky Lantern.
At the time of publication, House Bill 4 has had two readings in the Kentucky Senate and 16 floor amendment have been filed. Both Western Kentucky University and Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College are public institutions.
The Kentucky proposal is reflective of a nationwide trend of Republican politicians seeking to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the nation.
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