Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick (R-TX) commended the Texas Senate for passing Senate Bill 17, which eliminates "discriminatory" diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs and hiring practices from all state-funded college and university institutions in Texas.
"The Texas Senate has now passed the strongest pushback on woke policies in higher education nationwide," Patrick said on his website. "For far too long, academia has been poisoned by woke policies and faculty seeking to indoctrinate our students. Professors did not believe we would push back on their advances, but they were wrong. Students should be taught how to think critically, not what to think. The Texas Senate has now drawn a line in the sand and stated loud and clear that these woke policies will not be tolerated in Texas. I look forward to the swift passage of these bills through the Texas House.”
According to a news release from Texas Sen. Brandon Creighton (R-Conroe), chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education, Senate Bill 17 to ban DEI affirms the 1964 Civil Rights Act, Title VII, Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause at state-funded colleges and universities without affecting student organizations.
"The elevation of DEI offices, mandatory diversity statements, political litmus tests and diversity training have the opposite effect and only further divides," Creighton said, according to the Texas Senate website. "DEI programs have become a million-dollar industry at taxpayer-funded institutions -- yet they have made no progress advancing or increasing diversity.” Creighton believes diversity is important, but DEI programs and offices are the not the correct way to advance toward a diverse Texas. Creighton promotes a "merit-based approach."
According to the The Texas Tribune, the Senate passed SB 17 with a vote of 19-12 after a long debate. Those against the bill claim it will not help underrepresented groups and reverses efforts to block historical discrimination against minority groups.
"Senate Bill 17 will be a giant step backward in our quest for equal opportunity and equal worth for all. I worry that stifling diversity, equity and inclusion on our academic campuses will breed the negative attitudes and behaviors typically attributed to ignoramuses while stifling the development of tolerant, enlightened communities," Texas Sen. Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo) told The Texas Tribune.
Creighton and supporters argue that DEI itself is a form of discrimination that only tolerates one viewpoint and disregards candidates based on merit and qualification.
"Many of these programs have been weaponized to compel speech instead of protecting free speech,” Creighton told The Texas Tribune.
According to the Austin American-Statesman, Creighton's bill, SB 17, seeks to prevent public higher-education institutions across Texas from maintaining DEI offices or requiring DEI statements in admissions or hiring. The bill prohibits public colleges and universities in Texas from having a DEI office or hiring employees or outside contractors to perform the duties of a DEI office.
The bill also blocks any public office that promotes efforts "designed or implemented in reference to race, color or ethnicity" and bans training or activities "designed or implemented in reference to race, color, ethnicity, gender identity or sexual orientation," except those required under state or federal law. The proposed legislation would also prohibit universities from asking current students, employees, contractors and job applicants applying for admission for DEI statements or to endorse an ideology that promotes differential treatment based on race, color or ethnicity.
If the bill becomes law, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board would create a list of employees who violate certain portions of the bill, according to the Austin America-Statesman. The list would be shared with Texas public education institutions. The bill would also penalize universities that violate its provisions, including fines of either $1 million or 1% of the school's operating expenses, whichever is less. Employees would be placed on unpaid leave for their first violation and fired for their second violation.
