Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2021

Bill: 117-hr-730
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
Introduced: 2021-02-02
Policy area: Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
Subjects: Civil actions and liability

Department of Education

Education programs funding

Elementary and secondary education

Executive agency funding and structure

Federal officials

Government studies and investigations

Higher education

Racial and ethnic relations

Religion
Latest action: action_date: 2021-11-23
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and Labor. H. Rept. 117-177, Part I.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-02-02
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act</b> <b><b>of 2021</b></b></p> <p> This bill authorizes private civil causes of action for disparate impact violations (to the same extent as intentional violations) of federal regulations of general applicability that prohibit discrimination on the ground of race, color, or national origin in programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance.</p> <p>Education programs that receive financial assistance authorized or extended by the Department of Education (ED) must designate at least one compliance coordinator to carry out these nondiscrimination responsibilities and investigate complaints. </p> <p>The bill requires ED to appoint a Special Assistant for Equity and Inclusion to (1) promote, coordinate, and evaluate efforts to engender program compliance and inform individuals of their rights; and (2) advise ED on matters relating to compliance.</p>

action_date: 2021-11-23
action_desc: Reported to House, Part I
text: <p><b>Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act</b> <b><b>of 2021</b></b></p> <p> This bill authorizes private civil causes of action for disparate impact violations (to the same extent as intentional violations) of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded programs or activities.</p> <p>Education programs that receive financial assistance authorized or extended by the Department of Education (ED) must designate at least one Title VI compliance coordinator to carry out responsibilities, investigate complaints, and provide assistance to ensure students and employees are aware of their rights and responsibilities. </p> <p>The bill requires ED to appoint a Special Assistant for Equity and Inclusion to (1) promote, coordinate, and evaluate efforts to engender program compliance and inform individuals of their rights; and (2) advise ED on matters relating to compliance.</p>

tv_txt: I 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 730 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 2, 2021 Mr. Scott of Virginia (for himself, Mr. Nadler , Mr. Grijalva , Mr. Courtney , Mr. Sablan , Ms. Bonamici , Ms. Adams , Mr. DeSaulnier , Ms. Jayapal , Mr. Levin of Michigan , Ms. Omar , and Ms. Stevens ) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary , and in addition to the Committee on Education and Labor , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to restore the right to individual civil actions in cases involving disparate impact, and for other purposes.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Equity and Inclusion Enforcement Act of 2021 . 2. Restoration of right to civil action in disparate impact cases under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) is amended by adding at the end the following: 607. The violation of any regulation relating to disparate impact issued under section 602 shall give rise to a private civil cause of action for its enforcement to the same extent as does an intentional violation of the prohibition of section 601. . 3. Designation of monitors under title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) is further amended by adding at the end the following: 608. (a) Each recipient shall— (1) designate at least one employee to coordinate its efforts to comply with requirements adopted pursuant to section 602 and carry out the responsibilities of the recipient under this title, including any investigation of any complaint alleging the noncompliance of the recipient with such requirements or alleging any actions prohibited under this title; and (2) notify its students and employees of the name, office address, and telephone number of each employee designated under paragraph (1). (b) In this section, the term recipient means a recipient referred to in section 602 that operates an education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance authorized or extended by the Secretary of Education. . 4. Special assistant for equity and inclusion Section 202(b) of the Department of Education Organization Act ( 20 U.S.C. 3412(b) ) is amended— (1) by redesignating paragraph (4) as paragraph (5); and (2) by inserting after paragraph (3), the following: (4) There shall be in the Department, a Special Assistant for Equity and Inclusion who shall be appointed by the Secretary. The Special Assistant shall promote, coordinate, and evaluate efforts to engender program compliance with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.) and inform individuals of their rights under such Act, including the dissemination of information, technical assistance, and coordination of research activities, in a manner consistent with such Act. The Special Assistant shall advise both the Secretary and Deputy Secretary on matters relating to compliance with title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ( 42 U.S.C. 2000d et seq.). .