SB225: SB225 Education; discrimination on the basis of an individual's race due to a protective hairstyle, or length thereof, in any student dress or grooming policy; prohibit

25 LC 61 0115ER Senate Bill 225 By: Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Jackson of the 41st, Merritt of the 9th, Wicks of the 34th, Sims of the 12th and others 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 prohibit discrimination on the2 basis of an individual's race due to a protective hairstyle, or length thereof, in any student3 dress or grooming policy, program, or activity conducted by an educational institution that4 receives or benefits from state financial assistance, or enroll s students who receive state5 student financial aid; to pr ovide for definitions ; to provide f or related matters; to repeal6 conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8 SECTION 1.9 Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Geor gia Annotated, relating to10 general provisions relative to education, is amended by adding a new Code section to read11 as follows:12 "20-1-12.13 (a) As used in this Code section, the term:14 (1) 'Discrimination' means any direct or indirect act or practice of exclusion, distinction,15 restriction, segregation, limitation, refusal, or denial or any other act or practice of16 S. B. 225 - 1 - 25 LC 61 0115ER differentiation or preference in the treatment of a person or p ersons because of race,17 color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or age or the aiding, abetting, inciting,18 coercing or compelling of such an act or practice. This term shall not include any direct19 or indirect act or practice of exclusion, distinction, restrict ion, segregation, limitation,20 refusal, or denial or any other act or practice of differentiat ion or preference in the21 treatment of a person or persons because of religion if an educ ational institution22 demonstrates that it is unable to accommodate reasonably an ind ividual's religious23 observance or practice without undue hardship on the conduct of the educational24 institution's operation.25 (2) 'Educational institution' shall have the same meaning as s et forth in Code26 Section 20-1-10.27 (3) 'Protective hairstyle' means braids, locs, twists, afro, or other textured hairdressing28 associated with an individual's race, color, or national origin.29 (4) 'Race' includes traits associated with race, color, or national origin, including, but not30 limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles.31 (b) No individual shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of such individual's race32 due to a protective hairstyle, or length thereof, in any studen t dress or grooming policy,33 program, or activity conducted by an educational institution that receives or benefits from34 state financial assistance, or enrolls students who receive state student financial aid."35 SECTION 2.36 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.37 S. B. 225 - 2 -