25 LC 61 0115ER
Senate Bill 225
By: Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Jackson of the 41st, Merritt of the 9th, Wicks of the 34th,
Sims of the 12th and others
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
To amend Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
1
relating to general provisions relative to education, so as to prohibit discrimination on the2
basis of an individual's race due to a protective hairstyle, or length thereof, in any student3
dress or grooming policy, program, or activity conducted by an educational institution that4
receives or benefits from state financial assistance, or enrolls students who receive state5
student financial aid; to provide for definitions; to provide for related matters; to repeal6
conflicting laws; and for other purposes.7
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:8
SECTION 1.9
Article 1 of Chapter 1 of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to10
general provisions relative to education, is amended by adding a new Code section to read11
as follows:12
"20-1-12.
13
(a) As used in this Code section, the term:14
(1) 'Discrimination' means any direct or indirect act or practice of exclusion, distinction,15
restriction, segregation, limitation, refusal, or denial or any other act or practice of16
S. B. 225
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differentiation or preference in the treatment of a person or persons because of race,17
color, religion, national origin, sex, handicap, or age or the aiding, abetting, inciting,18
coercing or compelling of such an act or practice. This term shall not include any direct19
or indirect act or practice of exclusion, distinction, restriction, segregation, limitation,20
refusal, or denial or any other act or practice of differentiation or preference in the21
treatment of a person or persons because of religion if an educational institution22
demonstrates that it is unable to accommodate reasonably an individual's religious23
observance or practice without undue hardship on the conduct of the educational24
institution's operation.25
(2) 'Educational institution' shall have the same meaning as set forth in Code26
Section 20-1-10.27
(3) 'Protective hairstyle' means braids, locs, twists, afro, or other textured hairdressing28
associated with an individual's race, color, or national origin.29
(4) 'Race' includes traits associated with race, color, or national origin, including, but not30
limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles.31
(b) No individual shall be subjected to discrimination on the basis of such individual's race32
due to a protective hairstyle, or length thereof, in any student dress or grooming policy,33
program, or activity conducted by an educational institution that receives or benefits from34
state financial assistance, or enrolls students who receive state student financial aid."35
SECTION 2.36
All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.37
S. B. 225
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