A bill to provide that it shall be unlawful to deny equal access to students in public schools and public colleges who wish to meet voluntarily for religious purposes and to provide district courts with jurisdiction over violations of this Act.
Equal Access Act - Prohibits public schools receiving Federal financial assistance that allow students to participate in extracurricular activities from denying equal access or opportunity for students and faculty to engage in voluntary prayer or religious discussion on school premises during noninstructional periods. States that nothing in this Act shall permit the United States or any State or local government to: (1) influence the content of any prayer or other religious activity; or (2) require any person to participate in prayer in or other religious activity.
Allows an aggrieved individual to bring a civil suit and authorizes the attorney general to bring a class action to enforce this Act. Grants Federal court jurisdiction to hear actions for damages or injunctive relief arising out of this Act.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Committee on Judiciary requested executive comment from Office of the U.S. Attorney General.
Committee on Judiciary. Hearings held.
Committee on Judiciary. Hearings concluded. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 98-512.
Committee on Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Thurmond with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 98-357. Minority views filed.
Committee on Judiciary. Reported to Senate by Senator Thurmond with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and an amendment to the title. With written report No. 98-357. Minority views filed.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 657.
Committee on Judiciary received executive comment from Office of the U.S. Attorney General.
Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.
checking server…
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line