Federal

Equal Campus Access Act of 2023

Source: Congress.gov · 338 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill changes the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require public colleges and universities to treat religious student groups the same way they treat other student groups. Public schools that receive federal money cannot discriminate against religious student organizations because of their beliefs, practices, speech, leadership standards or conduct rules.

Who It Affects

Public institutions of higher education (colleges and universities that are government-funded) that receive federal funds under the Higher Education Act. Religious student organizations at those public colleges and universities.

Key Provisions

Public colleges cannot deny religious student groups any rights, benefits or privileges that other student groups receive, including full access to school facilities and official recognition by the institution (Sec. 124). Public colleges cannot make these decisions based on the religious beliefs, practices, speech, leadership standards or standards of conduct of the religious student organization (Sec. 124). Federal funds cannot go to any public college that violates these rules (Sec. 124).

What Changes

Public colleges that currently deny religious student groups equal access to facilities or official recognition would have to change their policies or lose federal funding.

Important Definitions

Religious student organization: A student club or group based on religious beliefs and practices.

I 118TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. R. 1816 To amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to ensure campus access at public institutions of higher education for religious groups. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MARCH 27, 2023 Mr. WALBERG (for himself, Mrs. MILLER of Illinois, Ms. HAGEMAN, Mr. WEBER of Texas, Mr. WITTMAN, Mr. BABIN, Mr. MANN, Mr. LATTA, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. MORAN, and Mr. GROTHMAN) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Work- force 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 00:43 Apr 08, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\H1816.IH H1816 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB 2 •HR 1816 IH SEC. 2. CAMPUS ACCESS FOR RELIGIOUS GROUPS. 1 Part B of title I of the Higher Education Act of 1965 2 (20 U.S.C. 1011 et seq.) is amended by adding at the end 3 the following: 4 ‘‘SEC. 124. CAMPUS ACCESS FOR RELIGIOUS GROUPS. 5 ‘‘None of the funds made available under this Act 6 may be provided to any public institution of higher edu- 7 cation that denies to a religious student organization any 8 right, benefit, or privilege that is otherwise afforded to 9 other student organizations at the institution (including 10 full access to the facilities of the institution and official 11 recognition of the organization by the institution) because 12 of the religious beliefs, practices, speech, leadership stand- 13 ards, or standards of conduct of the religious student or- 14 ganization.’’. 15 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:43 Apr 08, 2023 Jkt 039200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\H1816.IH H1816 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with $$_JOB

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