House Bill 999 looks to eliminate gender studies major, promote other programs

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — With the legislature ready to start the 2023 session next week, proposals for new laws are coming fast and furious.

House Bill 999 was introduced last week by representative Alex Andrade from Escambia County.

It contains common sense items like universal performance metrics and standards for all state schools and promoting programs that create new discoveries and technologies that help Florida’s economy as Gatorade did.

But there are also some provisions eliminating courses and degrees that have upset many in the academic community.

"There is nothing good about HB 999, it proposes nothing that benefits the higher education system," said Andrew Gothard, President of the United Faculty of Florida.

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"He’s tired of what he sees as political interference in what happens on campus. In this case, he’s concerned about language eliminating major or minor study of critical race theory, intersectionality, and gender studies. Literally, bans certain subject matter and teaching of courses and majors from students and adults in Florida from being allowed to teach and learn about that subject matter," said Gothard.

For his part, Governor DeSantis has indicated he believes some of the stuff going on at our public colleges and universities is a waste of taxpayer money, such as agenda-driven coursework which distracts from the core education the state should be providing students and which helps them get good jobs and successful futures.

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“We will not allow reality, facts and truth to become optional, we will never surrender to the woke mob. Florida is where woke goes to die," said DeSantis during his inauguration speech.

The governor is not involved in this bill.

His office says if it makes it to his desk, he’ll consider it. But, unlike some other legislation already in the pipeline, there’s no guarantee he’ll sign it.

Things he might support are allowing trustees to hire faculty and review tenure at any time for cause. The bill would also create high-quality, online state degree programs.

But language-eliminating majors and minors in gender studies and critical race theory as well as coursework and programs connected to diversity, equity, and inclusion go too far for many academics who think Tallahassee should not decide what ideas paying customers are allowed to explore.

"None of us need a politician leaning over our shoulders saying, actually that subject that you’re talking about today is inconvenient for my campaign platform so I’m gonna ban it from campus," said Gothard.

CBS12 News tried to reach representative Andrade for the past couple of days to get his thoughts on the bill, but we haven't heard back from him or his team.

The governor’s office also did not respond to our inquiries today.