SB 969 - This act creates the "Missouri Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (Missouri CROWN) Act", which governs discriminatory practices as they relate to protective hairstyles. Specifically, no person shall be subjected to discrimination based on the person's hair texture or protective hairstyle, if that protective hairstyle or texture is commonly associated with a particular race or origin, in any program or activity conducted by an educational institution that receives or benefits from state financial assistance, as that term is defined in the act, or that enrolls pupils who receive state student financial aid; provided, however, that such institution may require the use of hair nets or coverings or may require that hair be secured for safety purposes in any career and technical training course or class to comply with safety regulations and standards of the course or class throughout the duration of the course or class. This provision does not apply to an educational institution that is controlled by a religious organization if the application of such provision would not be consistent with the religious tenets of that organization. This act is identical to HCS/HBs 1900, 1591 & 2515 (2024), SCS/SB 424 (2023), and HCS/HBs 930, 361, & 326 (2023), and is substantially similar to SB 994 (2022), HCS/HBs 1743 & 2185 (2022), SB 145 (2021), HB 282 (2021), HB 420 (2021), HB 503 (2021), HB 1066 (2021), HB 1309 (2021), HB 1314 (2021), and HB 2356 (2020). OLIVIA SHANNON