Kansas Bill Regarding the Exercise of Religious Beliefs by Student Associations (SB 175)
This law was last updated on Jul 25, 2016
SB 175 would prohibit a college or university from denying benefits to a religious student organization.
The bill would prohibit a college or university from taking any action or enforcing any policy that would deny a religious student association any benefit available to any other student association or discriminate against a religious student association related to such benefits, due to the association’s requirement that leaders or members of the association:
- adhere to or comply with the association’s sincerely held religious beliefs;
- comply with the association’s sincere religious standards of conduct; or
- be committed to furthering the association’s religious missions.
The bill would create a cause of action for a student or religious student association aggrieved by a violation of this provision. The aggrieved party may seek appropriate relief, including monetary damages. An aggrieved party also may assert such violation as a defense or counterclaim in a civil or administrative proceeding brought against the aggrieved party.
STATUS
Sponsored by the Senate Ways and Means Committee.
The bill was signed into law by Gov. Sam Brownback on March 22, 2016.
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