Prohibition of official actions of counties relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion; penalty; remedy.

(1) For purposes of this section, the term:

(a) “Acting in an official capacity” means performing or purporting to perform a function, duty, or responsibility assigned by law, rule, or policy to a public officer or public employee, or otherwise exercising or claiming to exercise the authority of such office or employment.

(b) “Diversity, equity, and inclusion” means any effort to:

1. Manipulate or otherwise influence the composition of employees with reference to race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation other than to ensure that hiring is conducted in accordance with state and federal antidiscrimination laws;

2. Promote or provide preferential treatment or special benefits to a person or group based on that person’s or group’s race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation; or

3. Promote or adopt training, programming, or activities designed or implemented with reference to race, color, sex, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

The term does not include the use of equal opportunity or equal employment opportunity materials designed to inform a person about the prohibition against discrimination based on protected status under state or federal law.

(c) “Diversity, equity, and inclusion office” means any office, division, department, agency, center, or other unit of a county which coordinates, creates, develops, designs, implements, organizes, plans, or promotes policies, programming, training, practices, meetings, activities, procedures, or similar actions relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

(d) “Diversity, equity, and inclusion officer” means a person who is a full-time or part-time employee of, or an independent contractor contracted by, a county whose duties include coordinating, creating, developing, designing, implementing, organizing, planning, or promoting policies, programming, training, practices, meetings, activities, procedures, or similar actions relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

(2) A county may not fund or promote, directly or indirectly, or take any official action, including, but not limited to, the adoption or enforcement of ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, programs, or policies, as it relates to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Any such existing ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, programs, or policies are void.

(3) A county may not expend any funds, regardless of source, to establish, sustain, support, or staff a diversity, equity, and inclusion office or to employ, contract, or otherwise engage a person to serve as a diversity, equity, and inclusion officer.