CA Lawmakers Approve Bill Targeting LGBT Discrimination At Religious Colleges, Universities
SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) -- California lawmakers have approved a bill targeting LGBT discrimination at the state's religious colleges and universities.
SB1146, also known as the "The Equity in Higher Education Act," among other things, "prohibits a person from being subjected to discrimination on the basis of specified attributes, including sex, in any program or activity conducted by a post-secondary educational institution that receives, or benefits from, state financial assistance or enrolls students who receive state student financial aid."
In its original form, SB1146 sought to withhold government grants from religious schools whose codes of conduct contain prohibitions against same-sex relationships.
State Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) sponsored the bill. Sen. Lara agreed to remove a provision of SB1146 that would have taken away the exemption of private and religious schools to anti-discrimination laws.
The bill was heavily amended to eliminate portions that religious institutions opposed. Many religious schools were concerned the original bill could hinder their ability to accept low-income students who receive Cal Grant funding from the state and could open them to civil rights lawsuits.
After weaker version of SB1146 would require schools to inform current and prospective students, employees and faculty about any exemption they hold from rules against discrimination contained in the federal Title IX program or California's Higher Education Act.
A list of state schools with exemptions would be made public on the Student Aid Commission's website.
The Assembly approved the measure 42-23 Tuesday. It goes to the Senate to approve amendments.
SB1146 is the first of its kind in the nation. Sen. Lara says he plans to reintroduce new legislation next year that will include some of the provisions removed from SB1146.
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