,,ii  #aaf? ,,congress  #b;d ,session   
,s4 #cafg  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,janu>y #h1 #bjbj,mr4  
,book] 7= himself & ,mr4 ,br[n7         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !     
,judici>y  ,a ,,bill  ,to prohibit      
discrim9ation bas$ on an individual's   
texture or /yle ( hair4  #a4 ,%ort title
 ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,creat+ a    
,respectful & ,op5 ,_w = ,natural ,hair 
,act ( #bjai or ! ,,cr[n ,act ( #bjai4  
#b4 ,f9d+s2 s5se ( ,congress2 purpose   
7a7 ,f9d+s ,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7
 ,?r\gh\t ,unit$ ,/ates hi/ory1 society 
has us$ 79 conjunction ) sk9 color7 hair
 texture & hair/yle to classify         
individuals on ! basis ( race4  7#b7 ,l 
"o's sk9 color1 "o's hair has s]v$ z a  
basis ( race & national orig9           
discrim9ation4  7#c7 ,racial & national 
orig9 discrim9ation c & d occur because 
( long/&+ racial & national orig9 biases
 & /]eotypes associat$ ) hair texture & 
/yle4  7#d7 ,= example1 r\t9ely1 p (    

,african desc5t are depriv$ (           
educational & employm5t opportunities   
because !y are adorn$ ) natural or      
protective hair/yles 9 :i* hair is      
tightly coil$ or tightly curl$1 or worn 
9 locs1 cornr[s1 twi/s1 braids1 ,bantu  
knots1 or ,afros4  7#e7 ,racial &       
national orig9 discrim9ation is reflect$
 9 s*ool & workplace policies &         
practices t b> natural or protective    
hair/yles commonly worn by p ( ,african 
desc5t4  7#f7 ,= example1 z rec5tly z   
#bjah1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,arm$ ,=ces _h   
groom+ policies t b>r$ natural or       
protective hair/yles t s]vicewom5 (     
,african desc5t commonly we> & t        
describ$ ^! hair/yles z unkempt4  7#g7  
,9 #bjah1 ! ,unit$ ,/ates ,arm$ ,=ces   
resc9d$ ^! policies & recogniz$ t ?is   
description p]petuat$ d]ogatory racial  
/]eotypes4  7#h7 ,! ,unit$ ,/ates ,arm$ 
,=ces also recogniz$ t prohibitions     
aga9/ natural or protective hair/yles t 
,african-,am]ican s]vicewom5 are        
commonly adorn$ ) are racially          

discrim9atory & be> no relation%ip to   
,african-,am]ican s]vicewom5's          
occupational qualifications & _! ability
 to s]ve & protect ! ,nation4  7#i7 ,z a
 type ( racial or national orig9        
discrim9ation1 discrim9ation on ! basis 
( natural or protective hair/yles t p ( 
,african desc5t are commonly adorn$ )   
violates exi/+ ,f$]al law1 includ+      
provisions ( ! ,civil ,rights ,act (    
#aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;a et seq471  
section #aigg ( ! ,revis$ ,/atutes 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #aiha71 & ! ,fair ,h\s+ ,act  
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfja et seq474 ,h[ev]1  
"s ,f$]al c\rts h mis9t]pret$ ,f$]al    
civil rights law by n>r[ly int]pret+ !  
mean+ ( race or national orig91 & !reby 
p]mitt+1 = example1 employ]s to         
discrim9ate aga9/ p ( ,african desc5t :o
 we> natural or protective hair/yles ev5
 ?\gh ! employm5t policies involv$ are n
 relat$ to work]s' ability to p]=m _!   
jobs4  7#aj7 ,apply+ ?is n>r[           
int]pretation ( race or national orig9  
has result$ 9 a lack ( ,f$]al civil     

rights protection = individuals :o are  
discrim9at$ aga9/ on ! basis (          
*>act]i/ics t are commonly associat$ )  
race & national orig94  7#aa7 ,9 #bjai1 
,/ate legislatures & municipal bodies   
?r\gh\t ! ,unit$ ,/ates h introduc$ &   
pass$ legislation t rejects c]ta9 ,f$]al
 c\rts' re/rictive int]pretation ( race 
& national orig91 & expressly classifies
 race & national orig9 discrim9ation z  
inclusive ( discrim9ation on ! basis (  
natural or protective hair/yles commonly
 associat$ ) race & national orig94  7b7
 ,s5se ( ,congress ,x is ! s5se (       
,congress t-- 7#a7 ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t   
%\ld ackn[l$ge t individuals :o h hair  
texture or we> a hair/yle t is          
hi/orically & contempor>ily associat$ ) 
,african ,am]icans or p]sons ( ,african 
desc5t sy/ematically suff] h>mful       
discrim9ation 9 s*ools1 workplaces1 &   
o!r contexts bas$ ^u long/&+ race &     
national orig9 /]eotypes & biases2  7#b7
 a cle> & compreh5sive law %\ld address 
! sy/ematic deprivation ( educational1  

employm5t1 & o!r opportunities on !     
basis ( hair texture & hair/yle t are   
commonly associat$ ) race or national   
orig92  7#c7 cle>1 consi/5t1 & en=ceable
 legal /&>ds mu/ be provid$ to r$ress ! 
widespread incid5ces ( race & national  
orig9 discrim9ation bas$ ^u hair texture
 & hair/yle 9 s*ools1 workplaces1 h\s+1 
f$]ally fund$ in/itutions1 & o!r        
contexts2  7#d7 x is necess>y to prev5t 
educational1 employm5t1 & o!r decisions1
 practices1 & policies g5]at$ by or     
reflect+ negative biases & /]eotypes    
relat$ to race or national orig92  7#e7 
! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t mu/ play a key role 9
 en=c+ ,f$]al civil rights laws 9 a way 
t secures equal educational1 employm5t1 
& o!r opportunities = all individuals   
reg>dless ( _! race or national orig92  
7#f7 ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t mu/ play a      
c5tral role 9 en=c+ ! /&>ds e/abli%$ "u 
?is ,act on behalf ( individuals :o     
suff] race or national orig9            
discrim9ation bas$ ^u hair texture &    
hair/yle2  7#g7 x is necess>y to        

prohibit & provide rem$ies = ! h>ms     
suff]$ z a result ( race or national    
orig9 discrim9ation on ! basis ( hair   
texture & hair/yle2 &  7#h7 x is        
necess>y to m&ate t s*ool1 workplace1 & 
o!r applicable /&>ds be appli$ 9 a      
nondiscrim9atory mann] & to explicitly  
prohibit ! adoption or implem5tation (  
groom+ requirem5ts t disproportionately 
impact p ( ,african desc5t4  7c7        
,purpose ,! purpose ( ?is ,act is to    
in/itute def9itions ( race & national   
orig9 = ,f$]al civil rights laws t      
effectuate ! compreh5sive scope (       
protection ,congress int5d$ to be af=d$ 
by su* laws & ,congress' objective to   
elim9ate race & national orig9          
discrim9ation 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates4  #c4   
,f$]ally assi/$ programs  7a7 ,9 g5]al  
,no individual 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all be
 exclud$ f p>ticipation 91 be d5i$ !    
b5efits (1 or be subject$ to            
discrim9ation "u1 any program or        
activity receiv+ ,f$]al f9ancial        
assi/ance1 bas$ on ! individual's hair  

texture or hair/yle1 if t hair texture  
or t hair/yle is commonly associat$ ) a 
p>ticul> race or national orig9 7includ+
 a hair/yle 9 :i* hair is tightly coil$ 
or tightly curl$1 locs1 cornr[s1 twi/s1 
braids1 ,bantu knots1 & ,afros74  7b7   
,en=cem5t ,subsection 7a7 %all be en=c$ 
9 ! same mann] & by ! same means1       
includ+ ) ! same jurisdiction1 z if su* 
subsection 0 incorporat$ 9 title ,,vi ( 
! ,civil ,rights ,act ( #aifd 7#db      
,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;d et seq471 & z if a    
violation ( subsection 7a7 0 treat$ z if
 x 0 a violation ( section #fja ( su*   
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;d74  7c7      
,def9itions ,9 ?is section-- 7#a7 ! t]m 
program or activity has ! mean+ giv5 !  
t]m 9 section #fjf ( ! ,civil ,rights   
,act ( #aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4             
#bjjj;d-#d;a72 &  7#b7 ! t]ms race &    
national orig9 mean1 respectively1 race 
)9 ! mean+ ( ! t]m 9 section #fja ( t   
,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;d7 & national 
orig9 )9 ! mean+ ( ! t]m 9 t section    
#fja4  #d4 ,h\s+ programs  7a7 ,9 g5]al 

,no p]son 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all be     
subject$ to a discrim9atory h\s+        
practice bas$ on ! p]son's hair texture 
or hair/yle1 if t hair texture or t     
hair/yle is commonly associat$ ) a      
p>ticul> race or national orig9 7includ+
 a hair/yle 9 :i* hair is tightly coil$ 
or tightly curl$1 locs1 cornr[s1 twi/s1 
braids1 ,bantu knots1 & ,afros74  7b7   
,en=cem5t ,subsection 7a7 %all be en=c$ 
9 ! same mann] & by ! same means1       
includ+ ) ! same jurisdiction1 z if su* 
subsection 0 incorporat$ 9 ! ,fair ,h\s+
 ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfja et seq471 & z
 if a violation ( subsection 7a7 0      
treat$ z if x 0 a discrim9atory h\s+    
practice4  7c7 ,def9ition ,9 ?is        
section-- 7#a7 ! t]ms discrim9atory h\s+
 practice & p]son h ! mean+s giv5 ! t]ms
 9 section #hjb ( ! ,fair ,h\s+ ,act    
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfjb72 &  7#b7 ! t]ms   
race & national orig9 mean1             
respectively1 race )9 ! mean+ ( ! t]m 9 
section #hjd ( t ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4    
#cfjd7 & national orig9 )9 ! mean+ ( !  

t]m 9 t section #hjd4  #e4 ,public      
accommodations  7a7 ,9 g5]al ,no p]son 9
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all be subject$ to a  
practice prohibit$ "u section #bja1     
#bjb1 or #bjc ( ! ,civil ,rights ,act ( 
#aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;a et seq471  
bas$ on ! p]son's hair texture or       
hair/yle1 if t hair texture or t        
hair/yle is commonly associat$ ) a      
p>ticul> race or national orig9 7includ+
 a hair/yle 9 :i* hair is tightly coil$ 
or tightly curl$1 locs1 cornr[s1 twi/s1 
braids1 ,bantu knots1 & ,afros74  7b7   
,en=cem5t ,subsection 7a7 %all be en=c$ 
9 ! same mann] & by ! same means1       
includ+ ) ! same jurisdiction1 z if su* 
subsection 0 incorporat$ 9 title ,,ii ( 
! ,civil ,rights ,act ( #aifd1 & z if a 
violation ( subsection 7a7 0 treat$ z if
 x 0 a violation ( section #bja1 #bjb1  
or #bjc1 z appropriate1 ( su* ,act4  7c7
 ,def9ition ,9 ?is section1 ! t]ms race 
& national orig9 mean1 respectively1    
race )9 ! mean+ ( ! t]m 9 section #bja (
 t ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;a7 &       

national orig9 )9 ! mean+ ( ! t]m 9 t   
section #bja4  #f4 ,employm5t  7a7      
,prohibition ,x %all be an unlawful     
employm5t practice = an employ]1        
employm5t ag5cy1 labor organization1 or 
jo9t labor-managem5t committee controll+
 appr5tice%ip or o!r tra9+ or retra9+   
7includ+ on-!-job tra9+ programs7 to    
fail or refuse to hire or to dis*>ge any
 individual1 or o!rwise to discrim9ate  
aga9/ an individual1 bas$ on !          
individual's hair texture or hair/yle1  
if t hair texture or t hair/yle is      
commonly associat$ ) a p>ticul> race or 
national orig9 7includ+ a hair/yle 9 :i*
 hair is tightly coil$ or tightly curl$1
 locs1 cornr[s1 twi/s1 braids1 ,bantu   
knots1 & ,afros74  7b7 ,en=cem5t        
,subsection 7a7 %all be en=c$ 9 ! same  
mann] & by ! same means1 includ+ ) !    
same jurisdiction1 z if su* subsection 0
 incorporat$ 9 title ,,vii ( ! ,civil   
,rights ,act ( #aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#bjjj;e et seq471 & z if a violation (  
subsection 7a7 0 treat$ z if x 0 a      

violation ( section #gjc or #gjd1 z     
appropriate1 ( su* ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4  
#bjjj;e-#b1 #bjjj;e-#c74  7c7           
,def9itions ,9 ?is section ! t]ms p]son1
 race1 & national orig9 h ! mean+s giv5 
! t]ms 9 section #gja ( ! ,civil ,rights
 ,act ( #aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;e74  
#g4 ,equal rights "u ! law  7a7 ,9 g5]al
 ,no p]son 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates %all be    
subject$ to a practice prohibit$ "u     
section #aigg ( ! ,revis$ ,/atutes 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #aiha71 bas$ on ! p]son's hair
 texture or hair/yle1 if t hair texture 
or t hair/yle is commonly associat$ ) a 
p>ticul> race or national orig9 7includ+
 a hair/yle 9 :i* hair is tightly coil$ 
or tightly curl$1 locs1 cornr[s1 twi/s1 
braids1 ,bantu knots1 & ,afros74  7b7   
,en=cem5t ,subsection 7a7 %all be en=c$ 
9 ! same mann] & by ! same means1       
includ+ ) ! same jurisdiction1 z if su* 
subsection 0 incorporat$ 9 section #aigg
 ( ! ,revis$ ,/atutes1 & z if a         
violation ( subsection 7a7 0 treat$ z if
 x 0 a violation ( t section #aigg4  #h4

 ,rule ( con/ruction ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act   
%all be con/ru$ to limit def9itions (   
race or national orig9 "u ! ,civil      
,rights ,act ( #aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#bjjj;a et seq471 ! ,fair ,h\s+ ,act    
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #cfja et seq471 or       
section #aigg ( ! ,revis$ ,/atutes 7#db 
,u4,s4,c4 #aiha74  #i4 ,effective date  
,?is ,act %all take effect on ,augu/ #i1
 #bjbj4