| |
|
|
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
|
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the rights of certain religious organizations and |
|
|
individuals relating to a marriage that violates a sincerely held |
|
|
religious belief. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Family Code, is amended by adding |
|
|
Subchapter G to read as follows: |
|
|
SUBCHAPTER G. FREEDOM OF RELIGION WITH RESPECT TO RECOGNIZING OR |
|
|
PERFORMING CERTAIN MARRIAGES |
|
|
Sec. 2.601. RIGHTS OF CERTAIN RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. A |
|
|
religious organization, an organization supervised or controlled |
|
|
by or in connection with a religious organization, an individual |
|
|
employed by a religious organization while acting in the scope of |
|
|
that employment, or a clergy or minister may not be required to |
|
|
solemnize any marriage, provide services, accommodations, |
|
|
facilities, goods, or privileges for a purpose related to the |
|
|
solemnization, formation, or celebration of any marriage, or treat |
|
|
any marriage as valid for any purpose if the action would cause the |
|
|
organization or individual to violate a sincerely held religious |
|
|
belief. |
|
|
Sec. 2.602. DISCRIMINATION AGAINST RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION |
|
|
PROHIBITED. A refusal to provide services, accommodations, |
|
|
facilities, goods, or privileges under Section 2.601 is not the |
|
|
basis for a civil or criminal cause of action or any other action by |
|
|
this state or a political subdivision of this state to penalize or |
|
|
withhold benefits or privileges, including tax exemptions or |
|
|
governmental contracts, grants, or licenses, from any protected |
|
|
organization or individual. |
|
|
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
|
|
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
|
|
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
|
|
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
|
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |