JEFFERSON CITY — Multiple education initiatives were passed with bipartisan support by the Missouri Senate on Wednesday in an omnibus bill that now heads to the House for approval.
Sen. Brad Hudson, R-Cape Fair, is the sponsor of Senate Bill 160, which also combines some bills related to elementary, secondary and higher education.
One provision of the bill allows Missouri State University to award doctor of philosophy degrees in areas other than engineering, and undergraduate degrees in veterinary technology. If Kehoe signs the bill, it will override current state law that gave the University of Missouri a monopoly on those degrees and others.
Danny’s Law, named for former MU student Danny Santulli, is also a part of the omnibus bill. Santulli was involved in a hazing incident in October 2021 at Phi Gamma Delta fraternity that left him unable to walk, talk or see.
The bill makes hazing a criminal offense given that the person knowingly, actively and not under duress participated in an act that endangered a student or member of an organization at a higher-education institution.
It also provides an exception for people present at the time of a hazing incident who call 911, provide relevant information and remain at the scene until help arrives. Those who can prove they provided first aid to the victim before assistance arrived are also immune from prosecution.
The bill also creates the “Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair Act,” also known as the CROWN Act. The provision applies to elementary and secondary education institutions that receive state financial aid or who have students that receive state financial aid. It stops these institutions from discriminating against people based on hair texture or style if it is commonly associated with a particular race or origin.
Sen. Barbara Washington, D-Kansas City, said she appreciated Hudson’s willingness to put this act into the bill. She said the bill ensures students “are not treated unfairly or discriminated against simply by the hair that grows out of their head.”
Another section in the bill aims to protect student organizations at public higher education institutions. Under the act, those institutions are prohibited from taking action against a student group because of the group’s beliefs or actions of its leaders. They are also unable to deny belief-based groups any benefits available to other student groups.
Supporters say this part of the act protects political, ideological and religious student groups. No part of the provision applies to groups that disrupt the educational environment or interfere with other students’ rights.
