Miami’s NBC affiliate reports:
The controversial HB 999 bill aims to restrict the programs and activities that Florida universities and colleges can promote or support. It calls into question student organizations, groups or activities centered on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Line 341 of the bill aims to prohibit universities or colleges from using any funds to promote, support, maintain, any programs or campus activities that support or adopt diversity, equity and inclusion. That line is raising red flags for some Florida legislators.
“What campus activities are you attempting to regulate?” state Rep. Yvonne Hinson, D-Gainesville, asked during a recent House committee hearing. A member of a sorority herself, Hinson said her interpretation of the bill is that it could also impact the way Black sororities or fraternities operate on campus.
The Hill reports:
State Sen. Shevrin Jones (D) said that the bill is “so vague that HBCUs or other institutions period who have a Black fraternities and sororities on their campuses can practically say we will no longer be supporting you on our campuses based off of this law.”
Florida’s House passed the bill on Monday, and the state Senate will debate the proposed legislation on Wednesday. The bill bans courses “based on unproven, theoretical, or exploratory content” and majors in women’s studies or gender studies.
Latest for @thehill: The Florida State Senate tomorrow will debate a bill to ban programs that promote DEI in state colleges & universities. But the legislation has led to concerns that Black fraternities & sororities will be barred from Florida campuses. https://t.co/eifzEJLXvf
— cheyanne m daniels (your alien superstar) (@CheyannaMarie97) March 14, 2023
In Florida, House Bill 999 would:
– Prohibit DEI spending
– Put trustees in charge of faculty hiring
– Allow for tenure reviews at any time
– Remove majors or minors in subjects like critical race theory and gender studies@divyadivyadivya reports: https://t.co/jvt0vtOIBY— Open Campus (@opencampusmedia) February 24, 2023