HB130: AN ACT relating to freedom of speech at public postsecondary education institutions.

Legislative Summary

Amend KRS 164.348 to define "institution," "public," and "staff"; require an institution to adopt a policy to not restrict off-campus speech; extend free speech protections to staff and the public; provide that student religious and political organizations shall be afforded equal access to facilities; provide that authority vested with a student organization to distribute student organization funding shall be contingent on viewpoint-neutral distribution of those funds; provide that there shall be no buffer zones to outdoor areas used as traditional public forums; reduce institution's authority to establish permit requirements; specify how an institution defines student-on-student harassment; waive immunity for claims brought under the Act; permit disciplinary action against a faculty member or administrator that knowingly and intentionally restricts the protected speech of another; suspend the distribution authority of a student organization that does not distribute student organization funding in accordance with the Act; prohibit retaliation against campus community members; require Council on Postsecondary Education to develop free speech instructional materials and model trainings for institutions; require institutions to present free speech instructional materials and trainings to designated individuals; require institutions to publish semiannual student organization funding reports; designate the required contents of the semiannual student organization funding report.