S507 Summary

• Creates Article 36 in Chapter 116 requiring the UNC Board of Governors to adopt a policy on free expression stating that constituent institutions must ensure intellectual freedom, cannot shield individuals from First Amendment-protected speech, and must permit student and faculty discussion and assembly subject only to viewpoint-neutral time, place, and manner restrictions.

• Establishes an 11-member Committee on Free Expression appointed by the Board of Governors to monitor free speech compliance and report annually to the public, Governor, and General Assembly on barriers to expression, disciplinary actions, institutional neutrality issues, and recommendations.

• Limits constituent institutions' ability to restrict student expression to conduct unprotected by the First Amendment, including violations of law, defamation, harassment, true threats, privacy invasions, unlawful disruption, and narrowly tailored time/place/manner restrictions in public campus areas.

• Provides that the Attorney General or any person whose expressive rights are violated may sue for injunctive relief, court costs, attorneys' fees, and damages of $1,000 or actual damages (whichever is higher), with a one-year statute of limitations that resets daily for continuing violations.

• Requires constituent institutions to include free speech policies in freshman orientation and directs diversity offices to rename themselves to include "Free Speech Compliance" and ensure staff training on Act compliance, effective June 30, 2017.