Senate Bill 627 Summary

• Prohibits state entities from teaching, instructing, or training employees and contractors to adopt nine defined "divisive concepts" related to race or sex, including claims that one race is superior to another, that Arkansas or the U.S. is fundamentally racist or sexist, or that individuals bear responsibility for past actions of their race or sex.

• Protects state employees from penalty or discrimination for refusing to support, believe, endorse, or assent to the defined divisive concepts.

• Requires administrative heads of state entities to review grant programs and ensure recipients certify they will not use state funds to promote divisive concepts.

• Mandates state entities review all diversity and inclusion training programs for compliance before use and may pursue debarment of contractors who provide training teaching the prohibited concepts.

• Allows state entities to promote racial, cultural, or ethnic diversity and permits objective academic discussion of these concepts without endorsement; effective January 1, 2022.