Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.
Act 514 of the Regular Session
1 State of Arkansas As Engrossed: H3/15/23 H3/27/23
2 94th General Assembly A Bill
3 Regular Session, 2023 HOUSE BILL 1576
4
5 By: Representative Scott
6 By: Senator B. Davis
7
8 For An Act To Be Entitled
9 AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE CREATING A RESPECTFUL AND
10 OPEN WORLD FOR NATURAL HAIR (CROWN) ACT; TO PROHIBIT
11 DISCRIMINATION BASED UPON NATURAL, PROTECTIVE, OR
12 CULTURAL HAIRSTYLE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND IN STATE-
13 SUPPORTED TWO-YEAR OR FOUR-YEAR INSTITUTIONS OF
14 HIGHER EDUCATION; TO ADD DEFINITIONS TO THE ARKANSAS
15 CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1993; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
16
17
18 Subtitle
19 TO ESTABLISH THE CREATING A RESPECTFUL
20 AND OPEN WORLD FOR NATURAL HAIR (CROWN)
21 ACT.
22
23
24 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:
25
26 SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Title.
27 This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Creating a Respectful
28 and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act".
29
30 SECTION 2. Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 10, is amended to add an
31 additional section to read as follows:
32 6-10-137. Discrimination based on natural, protective, or cultural
33 hairstyle in public schools prohibited - Definition.
34 (a) As used in this section, "natural, protective, or cultural
35 hairstyle" includes without limitation afros, dreadlocks, twists, locs,
36 braids, cornrow braids, Bantu knots, curls, and hair styled to protect hair
*CRH013* 03-27-2023 11:23:06 CRH013
 As Engrossed: H3/15/23 H3/27/23 HB1576
1 texture or for cultural significance.
2 (b) A school district administrator, board member, teacher, or other
3 employee shall not discriminate against a student based upon the student's
4 natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle.
5 (c) The Division of Youth Services is exempt from this section.
6
7 SECTION 3. Arkansas Code Title 6, Chapter 61, Subchapter 1, is amended
8 to add an additional section to read as follows:
9 6-61-142. Discrimination based on natural, protective, or cultural
10 hairstyle in higher education prohibited - Definition.
11 (a) As used in this section, "natural, protective, or cultural
12 hairstyle" includes without limitation afros, dreadlocks, twists, locs,
13 braids, cornrow braids, Bantu knots, curls, and hair styled to protect hair
14 texture or for cultural significance.
15 (b) A state-supported two-year or four-year institution of higher
16 education shall not discriminate against a student based upon the student's
17 natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle.
18
19 SECTION 4. Arkansas Code § 16-123-102, concerning definitions within
20 the Arkansas Civil Rights Act of 1993, is amended to add additional
21 subdivisions to read as follows:
22 (9) "Because of national origin" includes without limitation on
23 account of a natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle;
24 (10) "Because of race" includes without limitation on account of
25 a natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle;
26 (11) "Ethnic animosity" includes without limitation on account
27 of a natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle;
28 (12) "Natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle" includes
29 without limitation afros, dreadlocks, twists, locs, braids, cornrow braids,
30 Bantu knots, curls, and hair styled to protect hair texture or for cultural
31 significance; and
32 (13) "Racial animosity" includes without limitation on account
33 of a natural, protective, or cultural hairstyle.
34
35 /s/Scott
36 APPROVED: 4/10/23
2 03-27-2023 11:23:06 CRH013


Statutes affected:
Old version HB1576 V2 - 3-15-2023 09:53 AM: 16-123-102
Old version HB1576 V3 - 3-27-2023 11:23 AM: 16-123-102
HB 1576: 16-123-102
Act 514: 16-123-102