S. 2908 — Lifting Local Communities Act

This section states the purposes of the Act, which are (1) to enable effective assistance to individuals and families in need; (2) to prohibit discrimination against religious organizations in receiving and administering federal financial assistance, including through federally funded social service programs; (3) to ensure religious organizations can compete for such assistance on a level playing field with nonreligious organizations; (4) to provide certainty that receipt of such assistance will not hinder religious organizations' operations consistent with their beliefs; (5) to strengthen the social service capacity of the United States by facilitating religious organizations' involvement; and (6) to protect religious freedom and expand individuals' and families' choices for federally funded social services from religious organizations.

This section establishes new requirements at 42 U.S.C. 1990A to ensure equal treatment of religious organizations in federal social services programs, including grantmaking and contracting. Specifically, it (1) requires federal, state, local, and pass-through entities to consider religious organizations on the same basis as other private organizations for providing services and prohibits discrimination in selection, assurances, restrictions, or disqualification based on an organization's religious character, affiliation, or exercise; (2) permits religious organizations receiving federal funds to retain their independence, religious terms in their name, mission, symbols, hiring based on religious tenets, and religious activities at the same facilities as funded programs; and (3) prohibits discrimination against beneficiaries based on religion while allowing organizations to decline program modifications for religious reasons and requiring governments to provide reasonably accessible alternative services of substantially similar value upon a beneficiary's objection to the provider's religious character.