The proposed bill, known as the Restoring Sanity Act, aims to amend the Code of West Virginia by prohibiting certain educational practices related to race, ethnicity, and gender identity. It specifically bars school districts, public charter schools, and state institutions of higher education from providing or requiring instruction that implies inherent superiority or inferiority based on these characteristics. The bill establishes procedures for complaints and appeals regarding alleged violations, allowing students, parents, and employees to report grievances. Additionally, it clarifies that educators are not required to use a student's preferred pronoun if it does not correspond with their biological sex, protecting them from civil liability in such instances.

Moreover, the bill restricts state institutions of higher education from creating diversity, equity, and inclusion offices or appointing officers for these roles, with exceptions only for compliance with federal laws and accreditation standards. Institutions must report their compliance efforts to the Joint Committee on Education and are required to redirect funds that would have been allocated to these offices towards merit scholarships for lower-income students or to reduce tuition fees. The legislation emphasizes a commitment to neutrality regarding contested opinions and prohibits preferential treatment based on beliefs or actions related to diversity and inclusion.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 18-2-9b, 18-5-29, 18B-1G-1, 18B-1G-2, 18B-1G-3, 18B-1G-4, 18B-1G-5, 18B-14-5, 18B-14-6