Federal

Equal Campus Access Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 354 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill amends the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require public colleges and universities to treat religious student organizations the same way they treat other student organizations. The bill prevents the federal government from giving money to public colleges that discriminate against religious student groups.

Who It Affects

Public institutions of higher education that receive federal funding under the Higher Education Act. Religious student organizations at those institutions.

Key Provisions

- Public colleges cannot deny religious student organizations the same rights, benefits or privileges given to other student organizations based on the religious group's beliefs, practices, speech, leadership standards or conduct standards (Sec. 2) - Public colleges must give religious student organizations full access to campus facilities on the same terms as other student organizations (Sec. 2) - Public colleges must officially recognize religious student organizations on the same basis as other student organizations (Sec. 2) - Federal funds made available under the Higher Education Act cannot go to any public college that violates these requirements (Sec. 2)

What Changes

Public colleges that currently deny religious student organizations equal access to facilities, official recognition or other benefits would be required to provide them. Public colleges that fail to comply would lose federal funding under the Higher Education Act.

Important Definitions

Religious student organization: Not explicitly defined in the bill text.

II 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 985 To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure campus access at public institutions of higher education for religious groups. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES MARCH 27, 2023 Mr. LANKFORD (for himself, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, Mr. SCOTT of Florida, Mr. RISCH, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. CRAPO, Mrs. HYDE- SMITH, Ms. ERNST, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. HAWLEY, Mr. TILLIS, Mrs. FISCHER, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. COTTON, and Mr. RUBIO) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions A BILL To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure campus access at public institutions of higher education for religious groups. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Equal Campus Access 4 Act of 2023’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:03 Apr 06, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S985.IS S985 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS 2 •S 985 IS SEC. 2. CAMPUS ACCESS FOR RELIGIOUS GROUPS. 1 Part B of title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 2 (20 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 3 the following: 4 ‘‘SEC. 124. CAMPUS ACCESS FOR RELIGIOUS GROUPS. 5 ‘‘None of the funds made available under this Act 6 may be provided to any public institution of higher edu- 7 cation that denies to a religious student organization any 8 right, benefit, or privilege that is otherwise afforded to 9 other student organizations at the institution (including 10 full access to the facilities of the institution and official 11 recognition of the organization by the institution) because 12 of the religious beliefs, practices, speech, leadership stand- 13 ards, or standards of conduct of the religious student or- 14 ganization.’’. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:03 Apr 06, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S985.IS S985 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42PROD with BILLS

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.