Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Crown Act Hair Discrimination topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate substitute for Crown Act gets unanimous committee support in earlier chamber; hearing held on protecting hairstyles in schools
Summary
Senator Barbara Ann Washington presented Senate Bill 38 (the Missouri Crown Act) to prohibit hairstyle discrimination in K–12 schools; sponsor and supporters described instances where protective hairstyles led to discipline and asked committee to protect students' dignity. Committee took testimony and closed the hearing.
Senator Barbara Ann Washington presented Senate Substitute for Senate Bill 38, the Missouri Crown Act, to the House Committee on Emerging Issues and described the proposal as a targeted bill to prohibit hairstyle-based discrimination in elementary and secondary educational institutions.
"Senate Bill 38 is about ensuring that no child in Missouri school is denied the opportunity or dignity because of the way their hair naturally grows or the protective styles they need choose to wear," Washington said. She told the committee the bill was narrower than some versions enacted in other states because it covers only elementary and secondary schools, not employment.
Supporters included the Missouri State Conference of the NAACP and the Missouri Equity Education Partnership, both of which testified about students who had been prevented from participating in school activities — from prom to graduation — because of natural or protective hairstyles such as braids, locks and afros. Witness Sharon Goway Jones (Missouri State Conference of the NAACP) told the committee the group had worked on the bill for years and urged passage. David Lee Brush of Missouri Equity Education Partnership described personal experience as a long-time educator seeing hairstyle-based discrimination in schools.
Senator Washington noted that 25 states have enacted versions of the Crown Act and told committee members the measure had previously passed the House in an earlier session. Committee members asked questions about safety exceptions for trade classes and other limited circumstances; Senator Washington said the bill includes safeguards for classroom-safety situations.
The transcript records the committee "will now enter a public testimony on senate substitute for senate bill 38" and later that "seeing no further witnesses that will conclude the hearing on senate substitute for senate bill 38." No committee vote on the substitute is recorded in the transcript from this hearing.
