Bill requires universities allow speakers with ‘wide diversity of perspectives’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – A bill is moving through the Senate that requires state universities to establish an Office of Public Policy Events, along with holding debates and forums and lectures that include a “wide diversity of perspectives.”

The legislation aims to modify provisions related to intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity, the use of political loyalty tests in hiring and admissions, and due process for students participating in student governments.

The bill was sponsored by Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, and passed 11-0 in the Appropriations Committee on Education. It previously passed in the Education Postsecondary Committee 6-2 and will head to the Fiscal Policy Committee next.

“This bill seeks to develop and continue a campus culture of educated citizens and remove unnecessary barriers to education and employment,” Perry said.

“Nothing in this building interferes with any professors ability to do what they teach in the classroom,” he said.

The bill requires the Board of Governors to establish a Committee on Public Policy Events and each state university to establish an Office of Public Policy Events.

Each state university is required to appoint a Director of Public Policy Events, who is responsible for the duties and reporting responsibilities of the office.

The bill specifies that the debates, group forums, and lectures must include speakers who represent widely held views on opposing sides of the most widely discussed public policy issues of the day, and who hold a “wide diversity of perspectives” from within and outside of the state university community.

The bill specifies that if the office is unable to readily find an advocate from within the state university community who is well-versed in a perspective, the office is required to invite a speaker who is able to represent such perspective.

The bill requires the office to maintain a permanent, publicly accessible, searchable, and up-to date calendar in print, on the office’s website, and on the state university’s website listing all of the events sponsored by the office.

The bill will modify provisions related to intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity, the use of political loyalty tests in hiring and admissions, and due process for students participating in student governments.

The legislation revises the date the State Board of Education and Board of Governors must annually compile and publish the Intellectual Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity survey results.

The bill modifies the law to revise the date from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31, beginning on Dec. 31, 2024.

“This bill encourages embraces intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity with the goal of graduating students not only with a degree, but also as educated and informed citizens,” Perry said in closing.