Greg Westlind voted Nay (Passage) on this Legislation.
Title: Authorizes Free Speech at Public Universities
A vote to pass a bill that requires the State Board of Higher Education to develop policies protecting free speech on campus.
Requires state institutions of higher education to allow peaceful assembly (Sec. 1).
Requires the State Board of Higher Education to adopt a policy on free speech that must apply to all students (Sec. 1).
Authorizes higher education institutions to require an individual who is not employed by or enrolled in the institution to obtain prior permission or authorization from the institution to use a public forum to demonstrate, protest, speak, or assemble (Sec. 1).
Specifies that these freedoms are subject to time, place and manner restrictions and must not do any of the following (Sec. 1):
Substantially obstruct building entrances, walkways, and rights-of-way;
Obstruct vehicular or pedestrian traffic on or adjacent to the institution; or
Interfere with classes, meetings, events or other processes of the institution.
Title: Prohibits Safe Spaces at Public Universities
A vote to pass a bill that requires the State Board of Higher Education to develop policies protecting free speech on campus.
Requires the State Board of Higher Education to adopt a policy on free speech which must include, but is not limited to, the following guarantees (Sec. 1):
Confirmation of free speech as a fundamental right, with each state institution of higher education committed to free and open inquiry by all students;
The broadest possible latitude for students to speak, write, listen, challenge, and learn to discuss any issue on campus;
No prohibition of any type of speech or expressive activity, except in special situations;
Allowance for students to criticize and contest the views of the community of the institution; and
Promotion of lively and fearless freedom of debate and deliberation.
Requires the Board of Higher Education to include in such policy a bill of student rights which (Sec. 1):
Recognizes fundamental and indisputable rights of freedom of inquiry, thought, and expression;
Encourages students to seek truth and knowledge without abridgement of the right of a student to reveal findings;
Reassures students that dissenting or disagreeing with generally accepted truth and knowledge is acceptable and essential to free debate, and students are not subject to any non-academic punishment because of the content of lawful speech; and
Specifies that in exercising freedom of speech, students may not interfere with the academic process of a class.
Title: Prohibits Safe Spaces at Public Universities