By Steven Allen Adams, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s bill to ban concepts in state government and academia connected to diversity, equity and inclusion received the approval of the state Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday.
The Senate Judiciary Committee recommended an amended committee substitute for Senate Bill 474, ending diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, for passage Thursday evening, though a request was made to waive the second committee reference to the Senate Finance Committee.
SB 474 seeks to eliminate DEI programs, training, activities, offices, and officers from West Virginia’s executive branch, primary and secondary schools, and higher education institutions. The goal of the bill is to prohibit state entities from establishing DEI offices, hiring DEI personnel, requiring diversity statements, giving preferential treatment based on DEI, and mandating DEI training.
The bill defines DEI as actions that influence hiring practices based on race, color, sex, ethnicity, or national origin, except through color-blind and sex-neutral processes; or promote special benefits based on these characteristics.