Protecting Religious Students from Vaccine Mandates Act of 2021

To ensure that institutions of higher education with COVID–19 vaccination requirements provide an opportunity for religious exemption from such requirements, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Protecting Religious Students from Vaccine Mandates Act of 2021 2. Provision of religious exemption from COVID–19 vaccination requirements (a) Religious exemption requirement A public institution of higher education that has a COVID–19 vaccination requirement shall, through December 31, 2024— (1) provide a reasonable opportunity for an individual to receive a religious exemption from such vaccination requirement; and (2) make a good-faith effort to notify individuals who are subject to such vaccination requirement of the opportunity to receive, and procedures to apply for, such a religious exemption, using easily accessible forms of communication such as the website of the institution or official digital or written correspondence from the institution to such individuals. (b) Annual report An institution of higher education described in subsection (a) (1) certifies that the institution meets the requirements under paragraphs (1) and (2) of such subsection; and (2) in the case of an institution that has denied such a religious exemption to 20 or more individuals during a calendar year, includes reasoning for such denials by such institution, whether the exemptions were denied due to an undue hardship for the institution, and if so, evidence to demonstrate such undue hardship to the Secretary of the Education. (c) Enforcement (1) In general Unless the Secretary of Education has determined that an institution of higher education is unable to comply with the requirements under subsection (a) subsection (b)(2) subsection (a) (2) Sunset The authority to enforce compliance with the requirements under subsection (a) shall expire on December 31, 2024. (d) Rule of construction Nothing in this Act shall be construed as discouraging institutions of higher education from promoting or offering COVID–19 vaccinations on campus. (e) Definitions In this section: (1) COVID–19 vaccination requirement The term COVID–19 vaccination requirement (2) Institution of higher education The term institution of higher education 20 U.S.C. 1001 (3) Religious exemption The term religious exemption

Summary: Protecting Religious Students from Vaccine Mandates Act of 2021 This bill requires public institutions of higher education (IHEs) to provide for a religious exemption from COVID-19 vaccination requirements. Through December 31, 2024, a public IHE that has a COVID-19 vaccination requirement must (1) provide a reasonable opportunity for individuals to receive a religious exemption from the vaccination requirement, and (2) notify individuals who are subject to the vaccination requirement about the procedures to apply for the religious exemption. An IHE must submit an annual report to the Department of Education certifying that the IHE meets these requirements. An IHE that denies a religious exemption to 20 or more individuals during a calendar year must provide additional information. The bill generally prohibits an IHE from receiving federal funds if it does not comply with the religious exemption requirements outlined by this bill.