No. CS/CS/HB 1001
Filed under Local Government.
Official Actions of Local Governments; Prohibits counties & municipalities, respectively, from funding or promoting or taking official action as it relates to diversity, equity, & inclusion; prohibits counties & municipalities, respectively, from expending funds for diversity, equity, & inclusion offices or for diversity, equity, & inclusion officers; prohibits counties & municipalities, respectively, from providing or authorizing funds to be used to promote diversity, equity, & inclusion initiatives; authorizes cause of action against counties & municipalities, respectively; requires potential recipients of county or municipal contracts or grants to make certain certification to county or municipality before being awarded such contract or grant.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDCounties and municipalities may no longer fund, promote, or take official action related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and any existing ordinance, program, or policy that does so becomes void immediately.
Local officials who violate the ban personally commit misfeasance or malfeasance in office, a charge that can lead to suspension or removal, separate from any penalty against the government itself.
Any resident of the county or municipality can sue over a violation and win declaratory relief, an injunction, damages, and costs, with no cap stated on the damages amount.
Anyone seeking a county or municipal contract or grant must now certify, before being awarded it, that the money will not be used to require their own staff or vendors to study DEI-related materials.
AICovers efforts to influence workforce composition by race, sex, or similar traits, give preferential treatment based on them, or run training built around them -- excluding only materials that explain antidiscrimination protections.
AIA county or municipality may not fund, promote, or take any official action -- including adopting or enforcing an ordinance, rule, program, or policy -- relating to DEI, and any such existing measure is immediately void.
AIA county or municipality may not spend any funds, from any source, to establish, sustain, support, or staff a DEI office, or to employ or contract a DEI officer.
AIA county commissioner, municipal governing body member, or other local official who violates this section while acting officially is deemed to commit misfeasance or malfeasance in office, a personal charge separate from any liability of the government itself.
AIA county or municipality may not provide or authorize its funds to be used by its own employees, or by contractors, volunteers, vendors, or agents, to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
AIAny resident of the county or municipality, not just a business or contractor directly affected, may sue in circuit court, and a court can award declaratory and injunctive relief, damages, and costs, with no dollar limit stated.
AIAnyone seeking a county or municipal contract or grant must certify, before being awarded it, that they will not use that money to require their own employees, contractors, volunteers, vendors, or agents to study or be instructed using DEI-related materials.