00                             HOUSE BILL NO. 312                                                                          
01 "An Act relating to dress codes and natural hairstyles."                                                                
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1. AS 14.03 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                    
04            Sec. 14.03.135. Dress code; natural hairstyles. (a) A governing body may not                                 
05       adopt a school dress code that                                                                                    
06                 (1)  prohibits a student from wearing a hairstyle that is commonly or                                   
07       historically associated with race;                                                                                
08                 (2)  prohibits a student from wearing a natural hairstyle, regardless of                                
09       the student's hair texture or type; in this paragraph, "natural hairstyle" includes braids,                       
10       locs, twists, and tight coils; or                                                                                 
11                 (3)  requires a student to permanently or semipermanently alter the                                     
12       student's natural hair.                                                                                           
13            (b)  Notwithstanding (a) of this section, a governing body may adopt a school                                
14       dress code that restricts student hairstyles if the restriction is necessary to comply with                       
15       a health or safety law, regulation, or ordinance.                                                                 
01    * Sec. 2. AS 23.10 is amended by adding a new section to article 7 to read:                                          
02            Sec. 23.10.450. Dress code; natural hairstyles. (a) An employer may not                                      
03       adopt a workplace dress code that                                                                                 
04                 (1)  prohibits an employee from wearing a hairstyle that is commonly                                    
05       or historically associated with race;                                                                             
06                 (2)  prohibits an employee from wearing a natural hairstyle, regardless                                 
07       of the employee's hair texture or type; in this paragraph, "natural hairstyle" includes                           
08       braids, locs, twists, and tight coils; or                                                                         
09                 (3)  requires an employee to permanently or semipermanently alter the                                   
10       employee's natural hair.                                                                                          
11            (b)  Notwithstanding (a) of this section, an employer may adopt a workplace                                  
12       dress code that restricts employee hairstyles if the restriction is necessary to comply                           
13       with a health or safety law, regulation, or ordinance.