Texas lawmakers have formally introduced a bill that aims to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs from publicly funded universities in the state.
Now, this bill has been sent to the Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, to sign it and become legally binding.
According to an article from The Hill news portal, if this law is approved, Texas would become the second state to implement this regulation in the United States, along with Florida.
Information from The Hill points out that this law, titled “Senate Bill 17”, will establish that Texas universities must eliminate their Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) offices, as well as DEI programs and trainings related to this topic in the next six months.
It will also require hiring to take place without regard to a person’s skin color or gender.
GOP-leaning Sen. Brandon Creighton told The Texas Tribune that “The days of political swearing, forced speeches and racial profiling in college recruiters are long gone. Going forward, Texas will prioritize the advancement of the most qualified individuals, and will advance policies that promote diversity and equality in our great state.”
Governor Abbott is likely to sign the law, as he has publicly expressed his opposition to DEI programs.
In fact, in February, according to information from The Hill, Abbott urged state agencies not to consider diversity in hiring, and warned presidents of public universities that DEI policies were illegal, arguing that violated anti-discrimination laws.
In mid-May, the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, signed a law to prohibit public universities from allocating funds for DEI programs, since, in his opinion, they only encouraged “discrimination, exclusion and indoctrination”, as reviewed by NPR.
DEI programs are found at many universities throughout the United States, and their goal is to diversify the staff at universities, as well as promote inclusiveness among students and faculty.
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