A ban on Texas public universities' diversity offices inches closer to becoming law
After hours of debate and multiple attempts to kill the legislation from Democrats, Texas is one step closer to banning diversity, equity and inclusion offices in public colleges and universities Friday.
In a 83 to 60 vote, the Texas House gave preliminary approval to one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities that would prohibit such offices, programs and any required diversity training.
In an attempt to stop a deluge of amendments from Democrats opposing Senate Bill 17, Republicans approved an amendment offered by the bill’s sponsor, Seguin Republican John Kuempel, that requires the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to conduct an impact study into the legislation, allow universities to make “reasonable efforts” to re-assign employees in DEI offices to new positions with similar pay, and shifts the day the bill goes into effect back by three months to Jan. 1.
The coordinating board is the state agency that oversees higher education policy at public colleges and universities.
This amendment was also an attempt to appease Democrats’ concerns that eliminating diversity offices and programs would put universities at risk to lose federal grants. Rep. Nicole Collier, D-Fort Worth, said the extension will give universities time to ensure current grants can comply with any DEI requirements.
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/05/19/texas-house-dei-university-bill/
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