1
2 ____________________________ ______________________________
3 Councilmember Elissa Silverman Councilmember Brianne K. Nadeau
4
5
6
7 ____________________________ ______________________________
8 Councilmember Mary M. Cheh Councilmember Christina Henderson
9
10
11
12 ____________________________ ______________________________
13 Councilmember Brooke Pinto Councilmember Robert C. White, Jr.
14
15
16
17 ____________________________ ______________________________
18 Councilmember Janeese Lewis George Councilmember Anita Bonds
19
20
21
22 ____________________________
23 Councilmember Charles Allen
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31 A BILL
32 _____
33
34
35 IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
36 ______________________
37
38
39 To amend the Human Rights Act of 1977 to prohibit discrimination based on hair styles necessitated
40 by, or resulting from, the immutable characteristics of a hair texture associated with race,
41 including braids, cornrows, locks, afros, curls, twists, and knots.
42 BE IT ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
43 act may be cited as the Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act
44 of 2021.
1
45 Sec. 2. Section 102 of the Human Rights Act of 1977, effective December 13, 1977 (D.C.
46 Law 2-38; D.C. Official Code 2-1401.02 et seq.), is amended as follows:
47 (a) Paragraph (22) is amended by striking the phrase including, but not limited to, hair
48 style and beards and inserting the phrase including, but not limited to, hair styles, protective
49 hair styles, and beards in its place.
50 (b) A new paragraph (25A) is added to read as follows:
51 (25A) Protective hair style means a hair style necessitated by, or resulting
52 from, the immutable characteristics of a hair texture associated with race, including braids,
53 cornrows, locks, afros, curls, twists, and knots..
54 Sec. 3. Fiscal impact statement.
55 The Council adopts the fiscal impact statement in the committee report as the fiscal
56 impact statement required by section 4a of the General Legislative Procedures Act of 1975,
57 approved October 16, 2006 (120 Stat. 2038; D.C. Official Code 1-301.47a).
58 Sec. 4. Effective date.
59 This act shall take effect following approval by the Mayor (or in the event of veto by the
60 Mayor, action by Council to override the veto), a 30-day period of congressional review as
61 provided in section 602(c)(1) of the District of Columbia Home Rule Act, approved December
62 24, 1973 (87 Stat. 813; D.C. Official Code 1-206.02(c)(1)), and publication in the District of
63 Columbia Register.
2