Action Alert

Oppose HJR24 in the House Tuesday Feb. 16 at 10 a.m.

At 10:10 tomorrow the House will vote on HJR24, Joint Resolution on Equal Treatment by Government, a proposed amendment to the Utah Constitution.

The League of Women Voters of Utah opposes HJR 24

The League over the years has supported both non-discrimination and affirmative action programs for minorities and women through litigation, legislative and regulatory action.

HJR24 would prohibit discrimination against individuals on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity or national origin with respect to public employment, public education, or public contracting.
But it would also prohibit preferential treatment, that is, affirmative action, for individuals, especially minorities and women, who continue to be denied those opportunities.
Affirmative action has been upheld by the courts many times.
Outreach and recruitment programs for the disadvantaged are working in Utah and would be hurt by this amendment.
Many have noted, including members of the Utah Constitutional Revision Commission, that a Constitutional amendment is not needed considering the protections that already exist in statute.