Feb 04, 2012 | Sign In

By The Associated Press

DENVER (AP) — A state lawmaker is dropping a bill which would have required high schools to get permission to use American Indian mascots.

Democratic Sen. Suzanne Williams said Wednesday that she introduced the bill because she thinks the state needs to have a conversation about the "subtle discrimination between races and cultures." The bill got lots of publicity and Williams says she no longer believes legislation is necessary to bring this issue to the public's attention.

Williams says she plans to work with the Colorado Indian Education Foundation and school districts on the issue over the summer.

The bill would have given schools three years to get permission to either continue using their mascot or to use another Indian mascot. Violators would have been fined $1,000 a month.

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