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The Tennessee Conservative [By Paula Gomes] –
A bill to prohibit higher education institutions from compelling teachers and students to adopt, affirm, adhere to, or profess Critical Race Theory concepts is making progress in the Tennessee General Assembly’s regular session and is on the calendar of the Higher Education subcommittee for February 15th, 2022.
House Bill 2417 (HB2417) sponsored by Representative Robin Smith (R-Hixson-District 26), and companion Senate Bill 2283 (SB2283), sponsored by Senator Mike Bell (R-Riceville-District 9), as introduced prohibits employees and students of public colleges and universities from being compelled to affirm the tenets of Critical Race Theory and creates a process whereby violations can be reported and funding withheld from public institutions of higher learning until the violation is remedied. – Amends TCA Title 4; Title 9 and Title 49.
If passed, this bill would prohibit college professors and other employees at public institutions of higher education from compelling students to discuss “public policy issues of the day” without the student’s consent. It would also prohibit professors from compelling students to adopt, affirm, adhere to, or profess ideas in violation of Title IV or Title VI of the federal Civil Rights Act of 1964, including, but not limited to the basic tenets of Critical Race Theory such as:
(A) That individuals of a race, ethnicity, color, or national origin are inherently superior or inferior;
(B) That individuals should be adversely or advantageously treated on the basis of their race, ethnicity, color, or national origin; or
(C) That individuals, by virtue of race, ethnicity, color, or national origin, bear collective guilt and are inherently responsible for actions committed in the past by other members of the same race, ethnicity, color, or national origin.
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The bill would also prevent courses of instruction or units of study not to direct or otherwise compel a teacher or student at that institution to personally agree with these same tenets.
Professors and employees of public colleges and universities would also be prohibited from giving students an advantage or treating them adversely based on race, ethnicity, color or national origin.
Each public institution of higher education would be required to implement a process by which the institution notifies the department of finance and administration of any violations and devise methods by which the institution will remedy violations.
If the institution does not remedy a violation to the satisfaction of the department within six months, then the department must prohibit additional state funding from being disbursed until the violation is remedied to the satisfaction of the department. This does not include scholarships, grants, tuition reimbursement, or other state financial aid received by the institution on behalf of an eligible student.
In addition the bill requires the department to immediately notify the chairs of the government operations committees of the house of representatives and the senate if an institution fails to remedy a violation to the satisfaction of the department within six months following the violation.
The bill also provides that an individual may bring a private cause of action against another individual or institution engaged in a violation of this bill.
**Note from the Tennessee Conservative – Just a reminder that many good Conservative bills die in Committees/Subcommittees before they ever see the light of day on the Legislature floor. If you support this bill, contact the Republican members of the Higher Education Subcommittee members below.**
Justin Lafferty (chair) – rep.justin.lafferty@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4110
Charlie Baum – rep.charlie.baum@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-6849
Mark Cochran – rep.mark.cochran@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-1725
Tandy Darby – rep.tandy.darby@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-7847
John Gillespie – rep.john.gillespie@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-8201
Mark White – rep.mark.white@capitol.tn.gov – (615) 741-4415
About the Author: Paula Gomes is a Tennessee resident and reporter for The Tennessee Conservative. You can reach Paula at paula@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
