CORRECTED COPY

LRB-3843/1

MIM:amn&wlj

2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE

2019 Senate BILL 479

October 4, 2019 - Introduced by Senators L. Taylor, Johnson, Wirch and Larson, cosponsored by Representatives L. Myers, Zamarripa, Stubbs, Crowley, Bowen, Spreitzer, Cabrera, Milroy, Sargent, Anderson, Haywood, Ohnstad, Neubauer, Shankland, C. Taylor, Vining, Brostoff, Subeck, Considine, Hesselbein, Fields, Hintz, Allen, Hebl and Emerson. Referred to Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform.

SB479,1,11 An Act to renumber 15.04 (1) (g), 48.82 (1), 106.58, 118.13 (1), 118.20 (1), 230.18 and 756.001 (1); and to create 15.04 (1) (g) 1., 16.70 (10p), 16.70 (10t), 36.05 (10g), 36.05 (10r), 38.01 (6g), 38.01 (6r), 47.01 (4), 47.01 (4m), 48.82 (1d), 51.01 (13g), 51.01 (13r), 66.1011 (1m) (f), 66.1011 (1m) (g), 66.1201 (3) (mg), 66.1201 (3) (mr), 66.1301 (3) (pg), 66.1301 (3) (pr), 106.50 (1m) (pg), 106.50 (1m) (pr), 106.52 (1) (dg), 106.52 (1) (er), 106.58 (1), 111.32 (12k), 111.32 (12L), 111.70 (1) (mg), 111.70 (1) (mr), 111.81 (15p), 111.81 (15u), 118.13 (1) (a), 118.20 (1) (a), 118.40 (4) (ae), 194.01 (11m), 194.01 (12m), 224.71 (12g), 224.71 (12r), 227.01 (10g), 227.01 (10r), 230.18 (1), 234.01 (11), 234.01 (12), 321.01 (10g), 321.01 (10r), 440.40 (5g), 440.40 (5r), 600.03 (40g), 600.03 (40r) and 756.001 (1d) of the statutes; relating to: prohibiting discrimination based on hairstyle.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes changes to various areas of the law to prohibit discrimination based on a person's hairstyle, including a “protective hairstyle,” which is defined in the bill to include braids, locs, and twists. The bill also defines “race” to include traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles.

Under current law, discrimination because of race is prohibited in employment, housing, education, service as a juror, adoption, and the equal enjoyment of a public place of accommodation or amusement. This bill prohibits discrimination based on a person's hairstyle in employment, housing, education, service as a juror, adoption, and the equal enjoyment of a public place of accommodation or amusement.

Current law also prohibits motor carriers, automobile insurers, mortgage bankers, mortgage loan originators, mortgage brokers, and real estate brokers and salespersons from discriminating against a person on the basis of race; prohibits discrimination based on race in the provision of vocational rehabilitation or mental health services; and prohibits the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents from investing gifts, grants, and bequests in companies that practice discrimination on the basis of race.

This bill prohibits motor carriers, automobile insurers, mortgage bankers, mortgage loan originators, mortgage brokers, and real estate brokers and salespersons from discriminating against a person on the basis of hairstyle; prohibits discrimination based on hairstyle in the provision of vocational rehabilitation or mental health services; and prohibits the UW System Board of Regents from investing gifts, grants, and bequests in companies that practice discrimination on the basis of hairstyle.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB479,1 Section 1. 15.04 (1) (g) of the statutes is renumbered 15.04 (1) (g) 2.

SB479,2 Section 2. 15.04 (1) (g) 1. of the statutes is created to read: