Special Committee Hears Bills to Address Forced
"DEI" and "Discriminatory" Ideologies
On Monday, March 6, the House Special Committee on Government Accountability, chaired by Rep. Doug Richey (R-Excelsior Springs), heard public testimony on HB 1196 and HB 489. HB 1196, sponsored by Chairman Richey, prohibits any public institution of postsecondary education from requiring any applicant, employee, student, or contractor to endorse “discriminatory ideology” as defined by the legislation. It further prevents institutions from requiring a "diversity, equity, and inclusion statement," as defined in the bill, from such individuals.
The purpose of the bill is to address what is becoming “increasingly present on public institution campuses,” Chairman Richey said in his opening remarks. “There are institutions that are requiring a statement of experience and agreement with DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion
The legislation provides a definition and prohibition section that aims to detail what practices an institution cannot use or consider, including providing any “extra points” that could be awarded during a hiring process based on an individual’s stance on DEI.
Chairman Richey also stated that he was contacted by public institution professors and students who feel that the use of DEI measures as a standard and in that way is ”problematic.”
Several committee members, including Ranking Member Rep. Nurrenbern (D-Kansas City) and Rep. LaKeySha Bosley (D-St. Louis), voiced their opposition of the legislation, questioning whether such concerns over DEI are warranted and asked the bill sponsor to detail how this focus was negative.
“What is your problem with diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Rep. Bosley argued.
During questioning from Rep. Chad Perkins (R-Bowling Green), Chairman Richey elaborated on his “goal.” With this legislation, “my goal is to protect diversity of thought — if [these practices] continue, diversity of thought is a thing of the past.”
After a break for House floor action, the contentious hearing continued into the evening with public testimony on HB 1196 and the introduction of HB 489. HB 489, sponsored by Rep. Ben Baker (R-Neosho), does the following:
- Requires to submit an annual certification by Dec. 31 to the Coordinating Board for Higher Education that the institution does not “require applicants or students to subscribe to DEI ideologies.”
- The legislation defines a medical institution of higher education as any institution of higher education that receives state funds and that offers health care-related degrees, health care-related certifications, or health care-related training.
- Requires medical institutions of higher education to publish titles and syllabi for all mandatory courses, seminars, classes, and trainings on a public online database, and prohibits institutions from conducting DEI audits or hiring DEI consultants.
- Requires medical institutions of higher education to require applicants to complete a standardized admissions test and outlines academic standards for health care-related courses of study, as specified in the bill. If a medical institution of higher education wants to alter the standards for admissions the new standards must be submitted to either chamber of the General Assembly and shall not be effective until at least 60 days have passed, during which a joint resolution of disapproval may be passed by both chambers and approved by the Governor to invalidate any such submitted standards.
The discussion over the legislation followed many of the same themes as HB 1196. In addition to those discussions, committee members disagreed on how diversity is achieved on campuses, specifically on whether individual diversity and backgrounds should be built into a medical students’ educational institution. From this came several exchanges on whether the practical application of medicine should be the only instruction required for medical students or if their studies should extend to an intensive understanding of varying backgrounds and other indirect influences that can impact someone’s life.
Altogether, a few speakers during public testimony suggested a possible disconnect presented by both bills, indicating that while the sponsors shared their support for DEI on campuses, their mention of DEI is targeted at what they believe is a politically motivated faction that uses DEI terminology to promote a more “Marxist” ideology. Therefore, witnesses recommended that the sponsors add clearer definitions to their legislation.
Both bills are expected to have amendments introduced before they go before the committee during executive consideration.
CBHE and WDB Nominee Voted Out of Senate Gubernatorial Appointments
On Wednesday, March 8, the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments considered and voted do-pass on Coordinating Board for Higher Education nominee David Sater and Rob Binney, nominee to the Missouri Workforce Development Board. They await Senate floor consideration after next week’s legislative spring break.
Other Updates:
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HCS HB 76, legislation that expands eligibility for the A+ schools program, passed out of the House Higher Education Committee. The bill limits participation to certain non-university eligible training providers and students in short-term educational programs. Amendments added by the committee are not available online at this time.
- The House Budget Committee held hearings this week to allow members to ask additional questions of each Missouri department. For DHEWD and HB 3, questions primarily focused on the proposed P20W data system, MoExcels Workforce Initiative projects and the ranking of each institution proposal, and the state’s financial aid programs. After the legislative spring break next week, the House is expected to consider a Chairman’s Amendment for all House operational budget bills.
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HB 336, legislation that establishes the "Required Immunization Liability Act," which states that an employer that “requires its employees to receive an immunization as a condition of employment shall be liable for damages or injury resulting from the required immunization,” passed House Emerging Issues Committee.
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HCS HB 183, legislation that would prohibit postsecondary educational institutions from “allowing any student to compete in an athletics competition designated for the opposite sex, as determined by the student's official birth certificate, or if unobtainable, another government record,” passes out of the House Rules – Legislative Oversight Committee. Its next consideration will be on the House floor.
- The General Assembly is on legislative spring break March 13-17; there will be no DHEWD legislative update next week.
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