| 1 | 1 | | 84R25654 JSC-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Sanford, Cook, Riddle, Lozano, Harless, H.B. No. 3567 |
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| 3 | 3 | | et al. |
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| 4 | 4 | | Substitute the following for H.B. No. 3567: |
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| 5 | 5 | | By: Geren C.S.H.B. No. 3567 |
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| 6 | 6 | | |
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| 7 | 7 | | |
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| 8 | 8 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 9 | 9 | | AN ACT |
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| 10 | 10 | | relating to the rights of certain religious organizations and |
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| 11 | 11 | | individuals relating to a marriage that violates a sincerely held |
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| 12 | 12 | | religious belief. |
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| 13 | 13 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 14 | 14 | | SECTION 1. Chapter 2, Family Code, is amended by adding |
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| 15 | 15 | | Subchapter G to read as follows: |
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| 16 | 16 | | SUBCHAPTER G. FREEDOM OF RELIGION WITH RESPECT TO RECOGNIZING OR |
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| 17 | 17 | | PERFORMING CERTAIN MARRIAGES |
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| 18 | 18 | | Sec. 2.601. RIGHTS OF CERTAIN RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS. A |
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| 19 | 19 | | religious organization, an organization supervised or controlled |
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| 20 | 20 | | by or in connection with a religious organization, an individual |
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| 21 | 21 | | employed by a religious organization while acting in the scope of |
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| 22 | 22 | | that employment, or a clergy or minister may not be required to |
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| 23 | 23 | | solemnize any marriage or provide services, accommodations, |
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| 24 | 24 | | facilities, goods, or privileges for a purpose related to the |
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| 25 | 25 | | solemnization, formation, or celebration of any marriage if the |
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| 26 | 26 | | action would cause the organization or individual to violate a |
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| 27 | 27 | | sincerely held religious belief. |
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| 28 | 28 | | Sec. 2.602. DISCRIMINATION AGAINST RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION |
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| 29 | 29 | | PROHIBITED. A refusal to provide services, accommodations, |
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| 30 | 30 | | facilities, goods, or privileges under Section 2.601 is not the |
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| 31 | 31 | | basis for a civil or criminal cause of action or any other action by |
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| 32 | 32 | | this state or a political subdivision of this state to penalize or |
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| 33 | 33 | | withhold benefits or privileges, including tax exemptions or |
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| 34 | 34 | | governmental contracts, grants, or licenses, from any protected |
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| 35 | 35 | | organization or individual. |
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| 36 | 36 | | SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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| 37 | 37 | | a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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| 38 | 38 | | provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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| 39 | 39 | | Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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| 40 | 40 | | Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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