GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2013

H                                                                                                                                                   D

HOUSE DRH30356-LH-100  (02/26)

Short Title:        Protect Religious Student Groups.		(Public)
Sponsors:	Representatives Jones, Jordan, Arp, and Riddell (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to:

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT to provide that religious or political student organizations at constituent institutions and community colleges may determine the organization's core functions and resolve any disputes of the organization.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Part 3 of Article 1 of Chapter 116 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 116-40.12.  Student organizations; rights and recognition.

(a) To the extent allowed by State and federal law, a religious or political student organization may determine that ordering the organization's internal affairs, selecting the organization's leaders and members, defining the organization's doctrines, and resolving the organization's disputes are in furtherance of the organization's religious or political mission and that only persons committed to that mission should conduct such activities.

(b) No constituent institution that has granted recognition of and access to any student organization or group shall discriminate against any such student organization or group that exercises its rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this section."

SECTION 2.  Article 2 of Chapter 115D of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 115D-20.2.  Student organizations; rights and recognition.

(a) To the extent allowed by State and federal law, a religious or political student organization may determine that ordering the organization's internal affairs, selecting the organization's leaders and members, defining the organization's doctrines, and resolving the organization's disputes are in furtherance of the organization's religious or political mission and that only persons committed to that mission should conduct such activities.

(b) No community college that has granted recognition of and access to any student organization or group shall discriminate against any such student organization or group that exercises its rights pursuant to subsection (a) of this section."

SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.