Kansas moves towards restricting DEI in public universities

The Kansas House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that would limit diversity-oriented hiring practices at Kansas universities, making the Sunflower State the latest state to try to limit DEI efforts in education.

invoice Passed by the Kansas House of Representatives 81-39 vote Five members were absent from the vote Thursday. The bill would prohibit any university, community college, or technical school in the state from considering diversity, equity, or inclusion in admissions, student aid, or hiring decisions.

The bill would also prohibit institutions of higher education from making admissions, educational aid, or employment decisions based on any statements about “political ideology or movement” provided by candidates. Universities are also prohibited from requesting or requiring such statements.

The vote came nearly a week after the Kansas Senate advanced a $25 billion state budget proposal. The budget includes provisions that would force universities to eliminate DEI requirements and mandatory DEI training. Associated Press reported. The state’s six universities will have to report that they have removed these requirements in order to receive certain funding, the newswire added.

The provision will be discussed among negotiators during the final draft budget process, according to the Associated Press.

“Instead of a meritocratic approach, universities have chosen to embrace an ideology that discriminates against those who do not conform to their orthodoxy,” said state Rep. Stephen Howe, a Republican who is the bill’s sponsor. Ta. House of Commons proceedings Wednesday. “This law prohibits all oaths of allegiance, litmus tests, regardless of position or ideology.”

Professor Howe said the bill was “constitutionally sound” and said the law “protects” the rights of students and staff.

The proposed bill would also allow the state attorney general to impose fines of up to $10,000 on schools that do not follow the rules, according to the bill’s text.

According to the Associated Press, some Kansas lawmakers argued that the definition of DEI is not clearly defined in the bill. Kansas House Speaker Dan Hawkins (R) pushed back, saying the bill would instead require a foundational test if a university requires an ideological statement from applicants to avoid definitional confusion. the newswire added.

Republican leaders in nearly two dozen states are seeking to limit DEI efforts in schools, including Alabama, where the Republican-led Legislature this week announced Committee passed bill banning state funding for DEI programs in government agencies. .

As of July 2023, at least 22 states have introduced legislation surrounding DEI initiatives in universities, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education.

Universities in Texas and Florida have begun laying off DEI positions, and Florida State University is prohibited from using state or federal funds to fund DEI programs.