ACLU opposing Kansas bill to protect campus religious groups

TOPEKA – The American Civil Liberties Union says a Kansas bill on religious student organizations would allow discrimination on campus.

The House Federal and State Affairs Committee considered a bill Monday that would prevent universities and colleges from denying benefits to religious student organizations based on their membership policies.

The bill would allow religious student organizations to require their members to comply with the associations’ sincerely held religious beliefs.

Supporters said this would protect religious organizations from being pushed off campus.

But ACLU Executive Director for Kansas Micah Kubic testified that the bill would allow student groups to have discriminatory policies and still receive public funds.

Republican Rep. Stephanie Clayton from Overland Park expressed concerns that the bill was too broad and could be widely interpreted.

This story was originally published March 30, 2015 at 1:27 PM with the headline "ACLU opposing Kansas bill to protect campus religious groups."