H-1223.2  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1637

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      54th Legislature     1995 Regular Session

By Representatives Elliot, Thompson, Beeksma, Smith, McMahan, Cairnes, Stevens, Basich, Campbell, Hargrove and Kremen

Read first time 02/02/95.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Prohibiting discrimination by school district employees against parents for political or religious beliefs.

    AN ACT Relating to discrimination by school district employees or school district employee organizations; adding a new section to chapter 28A.150 RCW; creating a new section; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that all persons, regardless of their political and religious beliefs, should be encouraged to express their views in the public debate over school curriculum and school district policy.  The legislature further finds that discrimination should not occur, and that there should not be attempts by school district employees and school district employee organizations to discredit the views of certain religious and political groups.  The legislature intends to prohibit such discrimination.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.150 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) School district employees and school district employee organizations shall not discriminate against parents or other persons based on association or perceived association with political or religious groups.  This prohibition against discrimination extends to activity involving the preparation, publication, or distribution of literature or manuals produced for the purpose of influencing school district or public policy or discrediting, or promoting discriminating against, any parent, group, or member of a religious or political group.

    (2) A violation of this section is a misdemeanor punishable in accordance with RCW 9A.20.010.

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