Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

Oklahoma Senate Bill SB216 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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53	53	STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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55	55	1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021)
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57	57	SENATE BILL 216 By: Burns
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63	63	AS INTRODUCED
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65	65	An Act relating to the Oklahoma Religious Freedom
66	66	Act; amending 51 O.S. 2011, Section 253, which
67	67	relates to burden upon free exercise of religion;
68	68	establishing certain actions by government entities
69	69	against religious institutions as a substantial
70	70	burden on the free exercise of religion ; prohibiting
71	71	restricted access to certain facilities; and
72	72	providing an effective date.
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77	77	BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
78	78	SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 51 O.S. 2011, Section 253, is
79	79	amended to read as follows:
80	80	Section 253. A. Except as provided in subsection B of this
81	81	section, no governmental entity shall substa ntially burden a
82	82	person’s free exercise of religion even if the burden results from a
83	83	rule of general applicabil ity.
84	84	B. No governmental entity shall substantially burden a person ’s
85	85	free exercise of rel igion unless it demonstrates that application of
86	86	the burden to the person is:
87	87	1. Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and
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139	139	2. The least restricti ve means of furthering that compelling
140	140	governmental interest.
141	141	C. The closure of a religious institution or the declaration of
142	142	a religious institution as nonessential by a governmental entity as
143	143	defined pursuant to Section 252 of this title shall be deemed a
144	144	substantial burden on the free exercise of religion that is not the
145	145	least restrictive means of furthering a compelling governmental
146	146	interest. A government entity shall not restrict access to
147	147	religious facilities or gatherings as long as such institutions are
148	148	not engaged in illegal acti vities.
149	149	SECTION 2. This act shall becom e effective November 1, 2021.
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151	151	58-1-975 TEK 12/31/2020 12:03:06 PM