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Committee Substitute House Bill 4012 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

HB4012 SUB

WEST virginia legislature

2016 regular session

Committee Substitute

for

House Bill 4012

By DELEGATES O’NEAL, MR. SPEAKER, (MR. ARMSTEAD), HANSHAW, MOYE, FAST, A. EVANS, AZINGER, WAXMAN, ROMINE, ROWAN AND R. PHILLIPS

[Introduced January 26, 2016; Referred
to the Committee on the Judiciary
]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §5-11C-1, §5-11C-2, §5-11C-3, §5-11C-4 and §5-11C-5, all relating to establishing the West Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act to ensure that, in all cases where state action is alleged to substantially burden the exercise of religion, that a compelling interest test is mandated, and, strict scrutiny is applied; including a short title; providing definitions; and addressing applicability, construction, remedies, and severability.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:


That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §5-11C-1, §5-11C-2, §5-11C-3, §5-11C-4 and §5-11C-5, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 11C.  WEST VIRGINIA Religious Freedom Restoration ACT.

§5-11C-1.  Short title.


This article may be known and cited as the "West Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act.


§5-11C-2.  Purposes.


The purpose of this article is to reaffirm the rights of West Virginians as enumerated in section 15 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of West Virginia; to codify the application of the compelling interest test and strict scrutiny standard set forth in Sherbert v. Verner, 374 U.S. 398 (1963), and Wisconsin v. Yoder, 406 U.S. 205 (1972), and affirmed by State v. Everly, 150 W.Va. 423 (1966); and to guarantee its application in all cases in which free exercise of religion is alleged to have been substantially burdened by state action.


§5-11C-3.  Definitions.


As used in this article:

"Exercise of religion" means the sincere practice or observance of religion under the rights enumerated in section 15 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of West Virginia; and the 1st Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America.

"State action" means action by a branch, department, agency, board, commission, instrumentality, official, or other person acting under color of law, of the state of West Virginia or any political subdivision thereof..


§5-11C-4.  Applicability; construction; remedies.


(a) State action may not substantially burden a person's right to exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, unless it is demonstrated that applying the burden to that person's exercise of religion in this particular instance:

(1) Is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest; and

(2) Is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.

(b) A person whose exercise of religion has been substantially burdened, or is likely to be substantially burdened, in violation of this article may assert such violation or impending violation as a claim for injunctive or declaratory relief or as a defense in any judicial or administrative proceeding. The person asserting such a claim or defense may obtain appropriate relief against the state or its political subdivisions, including, but not limited to, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, compensatory damages not in excess of a proven pecuniary loss, and costs and reasonable attorney fees. Nothing in this article shall be construed to create a cause of action by an employee against a non-governmental employer; nor shall anything in this article be construed to constitute a defense to any claim based upon a refusal to provide emergency medical services.

(c) This article applies to all state and local laws, and the implementation of those laws, whether statutory or otherwise, and whether adopted before or after the effective date of this article.  This article does not apply to any local or regional jail, or any state or Federal correctional facility, nor any facility that treats civilly committed sexually violent offenders.

§5-11C-5.  Severability.


If a subsection or portion of this article is declared invalid, that declaration does not affect the validity of the remaining portions.

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to purpose of this bill is to create the West Virginia Religious Freedom Restoration Act to ensure that, in all cases where state action is alleged to substantially burden the exercise of religion, a compelling interest test is mandated, and, strict scrutiny is applied

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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