Last week, Rep. Mindy McAlindon (R-Centerton) passed House Bill 1559 through committee and said that Gov. Sarah Sanders’ office and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences were “comfortable with the bill.”
HB1559 would allow teachers at public and charter schools — as well as at state-supported higher education — to walk out of any training that they determined focused on how to identify and avoid implicit bias. McAlindon argued that implicit bias training increased anger and frustration. Teachers who walked out of the training would be protected from “adverse employment action” under the bill.
UAMS Spokesperson Yavonda Chase said Monday that the institution was neutral on the bill and did not either support or oppose the legislation.
“We do not have a comment on the language pertaining to K-12,” Chase said. “In terms of higher education and UAMS, we will make necessary adjustments to address health disparities and still comply with the law.”