A proposed Florida bill that would ban all diversity, equity, and inclusion programs on college campuses passed the state House on Monday.
The bill is due to be debated in the state Senate on Wednesday. The bill aligns with Gov. Ron DeSantis’s (R-FL) blitz against “wokeness,” but he has yet to comment on whether he would sign the legislation in its current form.
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The 23-page HB 999 covers many topics, but it primarily seeks to ban all college funding for “any programs or campus activities that espouse diversity, equity, or inclusion or Critical Race Theory rhetoric.”
The bill calls for an end to using diversity or identity politics in the hiring process, a ban on all critical race theory-related courses, a ban on critical race theory-related statements from universities, and a ban on critical race theory-related organizations that receive funding from universities.
The bill has garnered widespread outcry from left-wing organizations.
Left-wing activists specifically take issue with the bill telling universities not to “promote, support, or maintain” programs or campus activities espousing DEI or critical race theory rhetoric.
Critics claim the wording of the bill will jeopardize all-black fraternities, LGBT groups, and historically black colleges and universities.
State Sen. Shevrin Jones, a Democrat, claimed the bill is “so vague that HBCUs or other institutions period who have a Black fraternities and sororities on their campuses can practically say we will no longer be supporting you on our campuses based off of this law,” the Hill reported.
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The bill’s sponsor, GOP state Rep. Alex Andrade, assured critics that minority-focused organizations like black fraternities could operate as normal under the bill.
“Those student groups can continue to operate how they see fit currently, subject only to the policies and procedures that are content neutral that apply to all organizations, student organizations on campus,” he said.
