Stop SB83

https://www.naswoh.org/page/stopsb83

Advocacy Alert: Stop SB 83

Help keep DEI in higher education and allow collective bargaining rights for all

If passed, SB 83 would:

• Create policies for "intellectual diversity" and "controversial" concepts

• Ban mandatory DEI programs and training for staff at stated funded universities

• Ban affinity groups and affirmative action policies in higher education

• Ban public positions on controversial issues, such as advantages/disadvantages based on race or sex

• Ban relationships with China, such as receiving donations/gifts or study abroad programs

• Require US history and government courses

• Require online posting of course syllabi, including biographical information of the instructor, assignments, and a description of each lecture
• Establish criteria for performance evaluations for instructors
• Ban striking and forms of collective bargaining for public employees, including any employee of state institution of higher education, law enforcement officers, first responders, and correctional facility employees
• Revise faculty workload policies
• Require discipline & funding loss for violations

Why this matters for social workers:

SB 83 is an attempt to dismantle diversity and inclusion efforts in higher education and allows for discrimination and hate to occur where students and staff should feel welcome and safe to have the freedom to learn.

SB 83 is particularly harmful to social work education as specific coursework related to anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion is a requirement for CSWE Program Accreditation.

What you can do:

1) Call and email the Senate Workforce and Higher Education Committee to voice your opposition and ask the committee to VOTE NOon SB 83

2) Prepare opponent testimony (written or verbal) to be submitted for the opponent testimony hearing. If you have questions about how to do this, please email us a info.naswoh@socialworkers.org

3) Follow Honesty for Ohio Education or become a partner agency to stay updated and involved (https://www.honestyforohioeducation.org/)

4) If you have questions regarding SB 83 or DEI efforts andcollective bargaining, please email us at info.naswoh@socialworkers.org!

Workforce and Higher Education Committee Contacts

Jerry C. Cirino (R) - Chair  
Cirino@OhioSenate.gov
(614) 644-7718

Michael A. Rulli (R) - Vice Chair 
Rulli@OhioSenate.gov
(614) 466-8285

Catherine D. Ingram (D) - Ranking Member 
Ingram@OhioSenate.gov
(614) 466-5980

Bill Reineke (R)  
Reineke@OhioSenate.gov
(614) 466-8049

Michele Reynolds (R) 
Reynolds@OhioSenate.gov
(614) 466-8064