(The Center Square) – Three bills involving diversity policies where taxpayers’ dollars go to education and state agencies will go before first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein.
Eliminating “DEI” in Public Education (Senate Bill 227), Eliminating “DEI” in Public Higher Ed. (Senate Bill 558), and Equality in State Agencies/Prohibition on DEI (House Bill 171) are among 17 proposals with a presentation to the governor date of Friday.
Stein will have 10 days to either sign, veto or allow to become law without his signature.
The state agencies proposal cleared the final hurdle Thursday afternoon when the House of Representatives concurred with Senate changes. Passage was 60-48 in the House and 26-20 in the Senate. In each chamber, no Democrats were for it and no Republicans against.
The bill language says it is an act “eliminating diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in state and local government and clarifying the penalty provisions of the state budget act and local government budget and fiscal control act.”
The K-12 bill says it is an act “to demonstrate the General Assembly’s intent that students, teachers, administrators, and other school employees recognize the equality and rights of all persons and to prohibit public school units from promoting certain concepts that are contrary to that intent.”
Passage in the Senate was 28-18 and in the House of Representatives 67-48. In each chamber, no Democrats were in favor and no Republicans against.
The higher education bill says it is an act “to demonstrate the General Assembly’s intent that students, professors, administrators, and other employees of public institutions of higher education recognize the equality and rights of all persons and to prohibit public institutions of higher education from promoting certain concepts that are contrary to that intent.”
Passage in the Senate was 28-18 and the House of Representatives was 64-47. In each chamber, no Democrats were in favor and no Republicans against.
