Governor to Sign Bill to Ban Hair Discrimination
New Jersey bill entitled Create a Respectful and Open Workspace for Natural Hair Act (“CROWN Act”) was passed by the Senate on December 16, 2019 and approved by the Assembly on December 19, 2019. The CROWN Act would prohibit discrimination on the basis of hairstyle, type, or texture, which are traits historically associated with race. This bill, which further addresses discrimination under the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (“NJLAD”), will head to the Governor for signature.
The NJLAD, which applies to schools and work places, would be amended to specifically define “race” to include “traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture, hair type, and protective hairstyle.” The CROWN Act defines “protective hair styles” to include “braids, locks, and twists.”
The CROWN Act follows similar legislation in California and New York banning hair discrimination and was prompted, in part, by an incident involving a New Jersey high school wrestler having to choose whether to shave his dreadlocks or forfeit a wrestling match.
The text of the proposed law can be found here.
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