HB127: HB127 Education; number of accumulated sick leave days for teachers and other school personnel; increase from three to five

25 LC 61 0259S The Senate Committee on Education and Youth offered the following substitute to HB 127: A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Cod e of Georgia Annotated,1 relating to general provisions relative to education, so as to provide that local education2 agencies and postsecondary institutions shall not promote, support, or maintain any programs3 or activities that advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion; to provide for exceptions; to4 provide for sanctions; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to provide for5 an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:7 SECTION 1.8 Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to9 general provisions relative to education, is amended by adding a new Code section to read10 as follows:11 "20-1-12.12 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:13 (1) 'Local education agency' shall have the same meaning as se t forth in Code14 Section 20-2-167.1.15 - 1 - 25 LC 61 0259S (2) 'Multiple occupancy restroom or changing area' means an area in a facility owned or16 operated by a local education agency or a postsecondary institu tion that is designed or17 designated to be used by one or more individuals of the same se x at the same time and18 in which one or more individuals may be in various stages of undress in the presence of19 other individuals. Such term includes, but shall not be limited to:20 (A) Restrooms;21 (B) Locker rooms;22 (C) Changing rooms; and23 (D) Shower rooms.24 (3) 'Postsecondary institution' means:25 (A) An institution of the University System of Georgia; or26 (B) A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia.27 (b) No local education agency or postsecondary institution sha ll promote, support, or28 maintain any programs or activities that advocate for diversity , equity, and inclusion. 29 Diversity, equity, and inclusion includes:30 (1) Any effort to promote the different treatment of, or provi de special benefits to,31 individuals on the basis of race, color, sex, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, or32 sexual orientation;33 (2) Any effort to promote or promulgate policies and procedure s designed or34 implemented with reference to race, color, sex, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity,35 or sexual orientation;36 (3) Any effort to promote or promulgate any training, programm ing, recruitment,37 retention, or activities designed or implemented with preferential treatment of any race,38 color, sex, ethnicity, national origin, gender identity, or sexual orientation over another;39 (4) Any effort to promote or promulgate any training, programm ing, or activities40 designed or implemented with reference to race, color, ethnicit y, gender identity, or41 sexual orientation; and42 - 2 - 25 LC 61 0259S (5) With respect to a postsecondary institution, any effort to promote, as the official43 position of the postsecondary institution, a particular, widely contested opinion44 referencing unconscious or implicit bias, cultural appropriation, allyship, gender ideology45 or theory, microaggressions, group marginalization, Antiracism, systemic oppression,46 social justice, intersectionality, neopronouns, heteronormativity, disparate impact, racial47 privilege, sexual privilege, or any similar or related formulation of these concepts.48 (c) The provisions of subsection (b) of this Code section shall not apply to any policy, rule,49 regulation, or practice adopted or enforced by a local education agency or postsecondary50 institution relating to an interscholastic or intercollegiate athletics program or to the design,51 designation, or use of a multiple occupancy restroom or changing area.52 (d) Any postsecondary institution that violates subsection (b) of this Code section shall be53 subject to the withholding of state funding or state administer ed federal funding. Such54 withholding of state funding or state administered federal fund ing shall include funds55 provided to the postsecondary institution directly as well as funding for scholarships, loans,56 and grants pursuant to Chapter 3 of this title for students of such postsecondary institution.57 (e) The State Board of Education shall be authorized to withhold a portion of state funding58 to a local education agency pursuant to Code Section 20-2-243 i f such local education59 agency violates subsection (b) of this Code section.60 (f) This Code section shall not be subject to waiver pursuant to Code Section 20-2-82 for61 a strategic waivers school system, Code Section 20-2-2063.2 or 20-2-2065 for a charter62 system, Code Section 20-2-2065 for a charter school, Code Secti on 20-2-2096.3 for a63 completion special school, or Code Section 20-2-244.64 (g) Nothing in this Code section shall be construed so as to prohibit compliance with any65 applicable state or federal antidiscrimination law."66 - 3 - 25 LC 61 0259S SECTION 2.67 This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2025, and shall appl y beginning with the68 2025-2026 school year with respect to local education agencies and the 2025-2026 academic69 year with respect to postsecondary institutions.70 SECTION 3.71 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.72 - 4 -