82. Kim Colby on Department of Education Regulations

<p>The Department of Education has proposed new regulations that are open for comment by the general public. Two sections of the new regulations are designed to protect religious student groups from being singled out and denied benefits because of their religious identity. </p> <p>Kim Colby, Director of the <a href= "https://www.christianlegalsociety.org" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Center for Law and Religious Freedom</a> at <a href= "https://www.christianlegalsociety.org" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Christian Legal Society</a>, summarizes the proposed regs and why they are needed. She also suggests that those who are in support of these regs should take action to comment in support of their final adoption.</p> <p>Here are the regulations Kim addresses on the podcast:</p> <p>Proposed regulation <strong>34 CFR § 75.500(d)</strong> (<strong>§ 76.500(d)</strong> is essentially verbatim):</p> <p>“A public institution shall not deny to a religious student organization at the public institution any right, benefit, or privilege that is otherwise afforded to other student organizations at the public institution (including full access to the facilities of the public institution and official recognition of the organization by the public institution) because of the beliefs, practices, policies, speech, membership standards, or leadership standards of the religious student organization.” </p> <p>The Center for Law and Religious Freedom has a guide to the regs and tips on how to comment at <a href= "https://clsreligiousfreedom.org/campuscomments" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CLSReligiousFreedom.org/CampusComments</a>. Here are the basic steps on how to submit a comment on or before February 18:</p> <ol> <li>Go to <strong><a href= "https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=ED-2019-OPE-0080-0001" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">https://www.regulations.gov/document?D=ED-2019-OPE-0080-0001</a>  </strong>(You are at the right place if the title is “Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirement