KUAR | By Sonny Albarado / Arkansas Advocate
State Sen. Dan Sullivan’s bill to “end state-sponsored discrimination” squeaked through the Senate on Thursday by a single vote.
Senate Bill 71 now goes to the House for consideration. The bill, which passed the Senate 18-12, prohibits state and local government agencies, including schools and universities, from taking into consideration race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin in employment, public education and procurement matters. Violating its provisions would be a Class A misdemeanor.
The Jonesboro Republican said his legislation makes everyone equal, “and we’re going to determine what equal means based on your merit, not those other qualities.”
Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate
Arkansas state Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Jonesboro) defended his bill to end "state-sponsored discrimination" in the Senate on Thursday, March 9, 2023. This shows him testifying on another bill in February.