For the last several months, Agudath Israel of California, together with a coalition of religious groups and private colleges, has been actively engaged in pushing back against Senate Bill 1146. The bill in its original form would have violated the religious freedom of faith-based colleges. The original proposal would have :
1) Narrowed the federal exemption of Title IX (discrimination on the basis of sex) for religious institutions to cover only ministerial students and not any student in an institution controlled by a religious organization
2) Curtailed Cal-grants (state scholarship available to California residents) to students in religious based institutions
3) Required more disclosure by institutions opting to use the Federal Title IX waiver.
Agudath Israel of California opposed the legislation both as part of a coalition of religious schools and organizations as well as through individual discussions with legislators. Agudath Israel of California welcomed the news that the author decided this week to drop the first two provisions and that the legislation will only require certain disclosures. Based on those changes, Agudath Israel removed its opposition to the bill.
“While the legislation is expected to come back in some form next year,” said Agudath Israel of California chairman Dr. Irving Lebovics, “the effort made and relationships forged in this go around, should help us in the future.”