Bill Text: MI SB0518 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Higher education; education programs; education programs for counselors, social workers, and psychologists; prohibit discrimination against students for sincerely held religious beliefs. Creates new act.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-06-23 - Referred To Committee On Education [SB0518 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2011-SB0518-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL No. 518
June 23, 2011, Introduced by Senators HUNTER and JANSEN and referred to the Committee on Education.
A bill to protect the right of a student to assert
conscientious objection to providing certain counseling or other
services; to prohibit certain actions by institutions of higher
education; and to provide remedies.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Julea
Ward freedom of conscience act".
Sec. 3. A public or private degree or certificate granting
college, university, junior college, or community college of this
state shall not discipline or discriminate against a student in a
counseling, social work, or psychology program because the student
refuses to counsel or serve a client as to goals that conflict with
a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction of the
student, if the student refers the client to a counselor who will
provide the counseling or services.
Sec. 5. (1) A person who alleges a violation of this act may
bring a civil action for appropriate injunctive relief, or actual
damages, or both within 90 days after the occurrence of the alleged
violation of this act.
(2) An action commenced under subsection (1) may be brought in
the circuit court for the county where the alleged violation
occurred, the county where the complainant resides, or the county
where the educational institution is located.
(3) As used in this section, "damages" means compensation for
injury or loss caused by each violation of this act, including
reasonable attorney fees.
