The Senate passed the “Anti-Racism Act” during the first of two floor sessions on Crossover Day.
Today is the last day each body can consider bills in their house of origin. A similar bill in the House of Delegates ran out of time on a deadline to advance from committee last Friday.
The bill is in response to the national discussion on the roles of race, gender and ethnicity in America, and specifically, with regard to education.
The Senate version, SB498, would include public, charter and private schools in K-12 education as well as higher education. The legislation does not include curriculum transparency requirements. The Senate bill would allow for the presentation of critical race theory concepts in a university setting, as long as alternative theories can also be presented.
The legislation would forbid instruction that one gender, race or ethnicity is superior to another. It also would prohibit teaching that some groups are inherently racist, sexist or oppressive based on their race, ethnicity or sex. The bill also forbids instruction that morality or character are tied to any of those factors.
Finally, the legislation prohibits instructing students that they should feel discomfort, guilt or anguish because of their race, ethnicity or sex.
The legislation contains a complaint procedure in grades K-12 for noncompliance. There is a reporting procedure at the university level.
The legislation passed on a 21-12 vote and now heads to the House of Delegates for consideration.
The Senate is in recess until 4 p.m.
Afternoon Meetings:
Economic Development at 1 p.m. in 451M.
Pensions at 2 p.m. in 451M.
Judiciary at 3 p.m. in 208W.
