H.J.R. 24

1

JOINT RESOLUTION ON EQUAL TREATMENT
2 BY GOVERNMENT
3 2010 GENERAL SESSION
4 STATE OF UTAH
5 Chief Sponsor: Curtis Oda
6 Senate Sponsor: ____________
7 Cosponsor:Carl Wimmer 8
9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This joint resolution of the Legislature proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to
12 enact a provision prohibiting discrimination and preferential treatment by government
13 entities.
14 Highlighted Provisions:
15 This resolution proposes to amend the Utah Constitution to:
16 . prohibit the State, public institutions of higher education, and political subdivisions
17 from discriminating against or granting preferential treatment to any individual or
18 group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin with respect to
19 public employment, public education, or public contracting; and
20 . provide exceptions;
21 . authorize the Legislature to provide a remedy for a violation and provide limits for a
22 remedy; and
23 . provide that the prohibition is self-executing.
24 Special Clauses:
25 This resolution directs the lieutenant governor to submit this proposal to voters.
26 This resolution provides a contingent effective date of January 1, 2011 for this proposal.
27 Utah Constitution Sections Affected:

28 ENACTS:
29 ARTICLE I, SECTION 30
30
31 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, two-thirds of all members elected to each
32 of the two houses voting in favor thereof:
33 Section 1. It is proposed to enact Utah Constitution Article I, Section 30, to read:
34 Article I, Section 30. [Prohibition against discrimination and preferential
35 treatment.]
36 (1) Each of the following is subject to this section:
37 (a) the State, including any department, agency, or other governmental instrumentality
38 of the State;
39 (b) each public institution of higher education; and
40 (c) each county, city, town, school district, local district, special service district, and
41 other political subdivision of the State.
42 (2) An entity that is subject to this section may not discriminate against, or grant
43 preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or
44 national origin with respect to public employment, public education, or public contracting.
45 (3) Subsection (2) may not be construed to:
46 (a) prohibit a bona fide qualification based on sex that is reasonably necessary to the
47 normal functioning of public employment, public education, or public contracting;
48 (b) invalidate a court order or consent decree in force on January 1, 2011;
49 (c) prohibit action required to be taken to establish or maintain eligibility for a federal
50 program, if ineligibility would result in a loss of federal funds; or
51 (d) affect an action taken before January 1, 2011.
52 (4) (a) The Legislature may by statute provide a remedy for a violation of Subsection
53 (2).
54 (b) A remedy for a violation based on discrimination may not be substantially different
55 than a remedy for a violation based on preferential treatment.
56 (c) A remedy for a violation based on discrimination or preferential treatment may not
57 differ based on the race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin of a person or group.
58 (5) Subsection (2) is self-executing.

59 Section 2. Submittal to voters.
60 The lieutenant governor is directed to submit this proposed amendment to the voters of
61 the state at the next regular general election in the manner provided by law.
62 Section 3. Effective date.
63 If the amendment proposed by this joint resolution is approved by a majority of those
64 voting on it at the next regular general election, the amendment shall take effect on January 1,
65 2011.




Legislative Review Note
as of 1-22-10 1:45 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel