BILL REQ. #:  S-3648.1 

Read first time 01/31/08.   Referred to Committee on Higher Education.

     AN ACT Relating to intellectual diversity; and adding a new section to chapter 28B.10 RCW.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   A new section is added to chapter 28B.10 RCW to read as follows:
     (1) Institutions of higher education shall promote intellectual diversity on their campuses.
     (2) For the purposes of this section, "intellectual diversity" includes, but is not limited to, a learning environment that exposes students to a variety of political and ideological perspectives that relate to the subject matter being taught or issues being discussed.
     (3) Each institution of higher education shall take the following steps, at a minimum, to ensure that intellectual diversity is occurring on its campus:
     (a) Incorporate intellectual diversity into the institution's statements, grievance procedures, and activities on diversity;
     (b) Encourage a balanced approach to panels and speakers that appear on campus;
     (c) Establish campus policies that ensure speakers are not prevented from speaking due to hecklers or threats of violence;
     (d) Include intellectual diversity in the institution's guidelines on teaching and program development; and
     (e) Develop a procedure in which a student may present his or her objection to a classroom assignment due to its opposition with the student's conscience.
     (4) The higher education coordinating board shall require each institution of higher education to report to the legislature on the steps the institution is taking to promote intellectual diversity on campus. The report shall be submitted to the legislature no later than December 1, 2008.