Affirmative action ban gains final approval; water fluoridation bill rejected

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

A controversial bill to ban all state-sponsored affirmative action programs gained final legislative approval on Wednesday.

Members of the state Senate passed Senate Bill 3 on a vote of 24 to 6 with no debate. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan. R-Jonesboro, prohibits any programs which discriminate or provide preferential treatment because of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin.

While no lawmakers spoke against it Wednesday, Senate Bill 3 has faced scrutiny over its potential to do away with several state-run programs, like the Arkansas Minority Health Commission and scholarships. Lawmakers in favor of the bill have said the programs will still exist, but will consider applicants based on merit rather than race, sex or other characteristics.

Affirmative action ban gains final approval; water fluoridation bill rejected

Affirmative action ban advances through Arkansas Senate

KUAR | By Daniel Breen

Members of the Arkansas Senate have approved a bill that would ban state-supported affirmative action programs.

Senate Bill 3, sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro, would prohibit “discrimination or preferential treatment” in state entities. Senators voted on the proposal Wednesday, following more than two hours of debate in committee Tuesday.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Sullivan said the bill wouldn’t impact hiring practices in the private sector.

“Preferential treatment and discrimination have always existed… but to say that we’re trying to get rid of that nationwide and statewide is just a straw man and not true,” he said. “This bill only affects procurement, hiring and higher [education].”

Affirmative action ban advances through Arkansas Senate

Image by John Sykes/Arkansas Advocate

Bill to ban affirmative action passes Arkansas Senate committee

KUAR | By Maggie Ryan

A bill to end affirmative action programs in the state has passed its first hurdle to becoming law Tuesday.

Senate Bill 3 to “prohibit discrimination or preferential treatment” in state entities is sponsored by Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Jonesboro. The bill strikes terms such as “equity,” “civil rights,” “minority,” and “diversity” from Arkansas law and repeals sections creating scholarships, support services, and retention programs for minorities.

The bill says “the state shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, an individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in matters of state employment, public education, or state procurement,” and creates a pathway for people who believe their rights have been impacted under the legislation to sue.

Bill to ban affirmative action passes Arkansas Senate committee