Reps. Haveman, Roy Schmidt, Lyons, Olumba, Jackson, Wayne Schmidt, Bumstead, Horn, Opsommer, Johnson, Hooker, Yonker, McMillin, MacGregor, Nesbitt, Lori, Pettalia, Cotter, Shirkey, Muxlow, Outman, MacMaster, Price, Callton, Olson, Genetski, Agema, Walsh, McBroom, Kowall, Lund, Daley and Rogers offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 112.

            A resolution to urge Michigan's public universities to adopt policies to protect the rights of students in counseling, social work, or psychology programs who are faced with situations that conflict with their religious beliefs.

            Whereas, A distinguishing feature of our American values is respect for religious beliefs that may be different than our own. The potential for conflict when a person with deeply held religious convictions encounters a situation that challenges these beliefs is inherent in several professions, including counseling and social work; and

            Whereas, A specific case at a Michigan university involving a graduate student faced with counseling a person whose life included elements that conflicted with the graduate student's beliefs has drawn considerable attention. The dismissal of the graduate student, and the subsequent legal actions, make it clear that a reasonable solution to this situation must be found; and

            Whereas, It is reasonable to expect that those who work in areas where deeply held personal beliefs conflict will face difficult situations. It is prudent to encourage the development of standards that give greater opportunities for a counselor to refer someone to another counselor without fear of penalty. Our higher education institutions should do all they can to provide for such situations; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge Michigan's public colleges and universities to adopt policies to protect the religious beliefs and practices of students in counseling, social work, or psychology programs who are faced with situations that conflict with their beliefs. We encourage our institutions of higher education to develop standards that protect the religious beliefs of counselors by providing that students shall not be disciplined for counseling situations when the student consults with supervising instructors and determines a course of action to avoid harm to the person seeking counseling help; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to Michigan's public universities.