Researcher: JM Page 1 3/9/21
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 6376
AN ACT CREATING A RESPECTFUL AND OPEN WORLD FOR
NATURAL HAIR.
SUMMARY
This bill makes it an illegal practice to (1) discriminate based on a
person’s hair texture and protective hairstyle in employment, public
accommodations, housing, credit practices, union membership, and
state agency practices or (2) deprive any person of any rights secured
or protected by the Connecticut Constitution or the United States
Constitution on account of the person’s hair texture and protective
hairstyle. It does so by specifying that the term “race” includes ethnic
traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and
protective hairstyles.
Under the bill, “protective hairstyles” include wigs, headwraps, and
hairstyles such as individual braids, cornrows, locs, twists, Bantu
knots, afros, and afro puffs.
It adds this protection to those afforded under the existing human
rights law under the jurisdiction of the Commission on Human Rights
and Opportunities (CHRO). CHRO has the authority to investigate
complaints of discriminatory practices. The bill also applies to the
laws that govern the awarding of agency, municipal public works, and
quasi-public agency project contracts.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Upon passage
BACKGROUND
Related Bill
Emergency certified HB 6515, which the House passed on February
24, and the Senate passed on March 1, contains identical language that
makes it an illegal practice to discriminate based on a person’s hair 2021HB-06376-R000024-BA.DOCX
Researcher: JM Page 2 3/9/21
texture or protective hairstyle.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Labor and Public Employees Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 13 Nay 0 (02/18/2021)