Tennessee SB 603: Education, Higher - As introduced, prohibits public institutions of higher education offering certain medical and health-related degree or certificate programs, and state contractors, from requiring diversity, equity, and inclusion training and education for purposes of the issuance of a degree, or the approval of a state contract or grant, as applicable. - Amends TCA Title 9; Title 12; Title 49 and Title 63.

Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 571
By Carringer

SENATE BILL 603
By Hensley

SB0603
001506
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AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated,
Title 9; Title 12; Title 49 and Title 63,
relative to limiting the application of DEI
training.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 7, is amended by adding
SECTIONS 2 through 11 as a new part:
SECTION 2.
The purpose of this part is to ensure that state-funded medical providers and
educational institutions provide patient care, curricula, and training that serve patients
and students equally, regardless of their race or other immutable characteristics, and to
protect the practice of medicine and the education and training of medical personnel
from the effects of harmful ideologies.
SECTION 3. As used in this part:
(1) "Academic standards" means the grade point average, admissions
standardized test score, or other objective metric used to measure a student's
achievements for the purposes of admission into, advancement in, or graduation from a
medical institution of higher education;
(2) "Curriculum" means the subject matter studied within a healthcare-related
academic program, including all materials used, instruction provided, and third-party
educational services retained;
(3) "Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)":

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(A) Means an effort to promote racial diversity in an aspect of a
healthcare related academic program; a reference to group differences within a
given setting along cultural, ethnic, gender, gender identity, national origin, race,
religion, or sexual orientation lines; and promulgating policies, practices, and
procedures designed or implemented with reference to those group differences;
and
(B) Does not include equal opportunity or equal employment opportunity
materials designed to inform individuals about the prohibition on discrimination
based on protected status under state and federal law;
(4) "Healthcare provider" means public hospitals and public healthcare
providers, including, but not limited to, hospitals, doctors' offices, outpatient clinics,
medical testing sites, medical labs, physical or occupational therapy or rehabilitation
providers, chiropractors, dentists, optometrists, mental health and clinical social workers,
and related providers;
(5) "Healthcare-related academic program" means a healthcare-related area of
study designed to prepare students for employment as or with a healthcare provider by
conferring a degree or certification, including, but not limited to, nursing, pre-medical
school majors, medical doctor degrees, psychiatry, clinical social work, dentistry, dental
hygiene, physical or occupational therapy, chiropractic care, medical equipment
technicians, and all other related fields;
(6) "Healthcare-related professional licensing board" includes public licensing
boards for audiology and speech pathology, chiropractic, dentistry, dietetics and
nutrition, medicine, osteopathy, long-term care, mental health and human services,
massage therapy, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacology, physical
therapy, podiatry, professional counseling, psychology, and social work; and

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(7) "Medical institution of higher education" means a public institution of higher
education offering bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees; or a trade school offering
healthcare-related degrees, certification programs, or training that receives state funds.
SECTION 4.
(a) A medical institution of higher education shall annually certify to the state
board of medical examiners and Tennessee higher education commission by December
31 that the institution does not require:
(1) Applicants to ascribe to DEI ideologies or discriminate against
applicants who do not ascribe to DEI ideologies during the application process;
or
(2) Admitted students to study or ascribe to DEI ideologies within the
student's medical institution of higher education.
(b) A medical institution of higher education shall publish the titles and syllabi of
all mandatory courses, seminars, classes, workshops, and training sessions on the
institution's website in an online database that is readily searchable by the public.
(c) A medical institution of higher education shall not conduct internal DEI audits
or otherwise engage DEI consultants.
SECTION 5.
(a) Medical institutions of higher education shall require a standardized
admissions test focused on knowledge and critical thinking around science and medical
training, as a requirement for admission.
(b) Before a medical institution of higher education may alter the academic
standards for the admission of new students to a healthcare-related course of study or
for the conferral of a healthcare-related degree or certificate, the medical institution of

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higher education shall submit to the speaker of the senate, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and the Tennessee higher education commission:
(1) A copy of the proposed aca