HB 2198

This bill require s each state department and agency , and public institution of higher education , to demonstrate its compliance with state law or policy prohibiting the adoption, implementation, or enforcement of DEI. If a state department or agency , or public institution of higher education , fails to demonstrate its compliance with such prohibitions, this bill provides that the state department or agency , or public institution of higher education , risks termination, reorganization, and a loss of funding, and is subject to any other penalty, remedy, or enforceme nt measure available to the governor and the general assembly. The full text of this bill states three legislative findings concerning DEI and defines DEI. This bill requires e ach state department and agency , and public institution of higher education , to annually : (1) Submit a report to the governor and general assembly detailing the steps that the state department or agency , or public institution of higher education , has taken to remove DEI from the workplace, identifying any areas of institutional concern, and summarizing any complaints received by the state department or agency , or public institution of higher education , related to violations of any state law that prohibits DEI; and (2) Certify, through its chief administrator, to the governor and general assembly in a sworn statement made under penalty of perjury that the state department or agency , public institution of higher education , is in compliance with state law or policy that prohibits the adoption, implementation, or enforcement of DEI. This bill authorizes the attorney general and reporter to investigate any allegation that a state department or agency , or public institution of higher education , is acting in violation of a state law prohibiting the adoption, implementation, or enforcement of DEI. This bill requires the attorney general and reporter to shall submit an annual report to the governor and the general assembly detailing for the fiscal year immediately preceding the date on which the attorney general and reporter submits the r eport, each allegation made against a state department or agency , or public institution of higher education , on grounds that the state department or agency , or public institution of higher education , is or was acting in violation of a state law prohibiting the adoption, implementation, or enforcement of DEI. The report must include the outcome of each investigation conducted by the attorney general and reporter for the respective fiscal year.