Prohibiting school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications, and providing civil penalties

This bill prohibits school districts and charter schools from taking disciplinary action against employees, contractors, or students for the use of legal names, the use of student names as listed in school registration forms or records, or for the failure to use personal pronouns in official communications. The bill prohibits the board of directors of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools from taking any disciplinary action against an employee, contractor, or student for addressing other employees, contractors, or students using the employee’s, contractor’s, or student’s legal name. The bill also prohibits the boards of directors of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools from taking any disciplinary action against an employee, contractor, or student for addressing other students using the student’s name as it is listed in the school’s registration forms or records. The bill prohibits the board of directors of school districts and the governing boards of charter schools from taking any disciplinary action against an employee, contractor, or student for failing to disclose or use any personal pronouns in the greeting or signature block of any form of official communication. The bill allows an employee whose employment is terminated in violation of these provisions to enforce the provisions through a civil action which allows the aggrieved employee to receive reinstatement, with or without back pay, civil damages in an amount not to exceed three times the aggrieved employee’s annual wages and benefits, and any other equitable relief the court deems appropriate, including attorney fees and costs. Injunctive relief is also available. The bill defines “disciplinary action” to include termination of employment or the contractual relationship, suspension from employment or the contractual relationship, demotion, expulsion from school, suspension from school, detention, financial penalties, and written or verbal reprimands.