H 4508 General Bill, By Thayer, Chumley, Burns, V.S. Moss, Yow, Gagnon and 
Gambrell

Similar(H 4446)
 A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION
 20-1-25 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA PASTOR PROTECTION ACT"; TO
 ESTABLISH THAT A REFUSAL TO PERFORM A MARRIAGE CEREMONY IS NOT A BASIS FOR A
 CAUSE OF ACTION BY THE STATE OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION AGAINST A RELIGIOUS
 ORGANIZATION, AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYED BY A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION OR A MINISTER
 OR OTHER MEMBER OF THE CLERGY; AND TO PROVIDE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL OR
 ORGANIZATION MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM A MARRIAGE CEREMONY IF IT WOULD
 CAUSE THE ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL TO VIOLATE A SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS
 BELIEF.

   12/03/15  House  Prefiled
   12/03/15  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
   01/12/16  House  Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 86)
   01/12/16  House  Referred to Committee on Judiciary
                     (House Journal-page 86)
   01/13/16  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Yow
   02/02/16  House  Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gagnon,
                     Gambrell

TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING SECTION 20-1-25 SO AS TO ENACT THE "SOUTH CAROLINA PASTOR PROTECTION ACT"; TO ESTABLISH THAT A REFUSAL TO PERFORM A MARRIAGE CEREMONY IS NOT A BASIS FOR A CAUSE OF ACTION BY THE STATE OR POLITICAL SUBDIVISION AGAINST A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYED BY A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION OR A MINISTER OR OTHER MEMBER OF THE CLERGY; AND TO PROVIDE THAT AN INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM A MARRIAGE CEREMONY IF IT WOULD CAUSE THE ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL TO VIOLATE A SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEF.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:

SECTION    1.    This act must be cited as the 'South Carolina Pastor Protection Act'.

SECTION    2.    Article 1, Chapter 1, Title 20 of the 1976 Code is amended by adding:

"Section 20-1-25.    (A)    A religious organization, an organization supervised or controlled by, or established in connection with, a religious organization, an individual employed by a religious organization acting within the scope of employment, or a minister or other member of the clergy who refuses to provide services, accommodations, facilities, goods, or privileges pursuant to this section is not liable in a civil or criminal cause of action. Any other action by this State or a political subdivision of this State to penalize or withhold benefits or privileges from a protected organization or individual, including tax exemptions or governmental contracts, grants, or licenses is prohibited.

(B)    A religious organization, an organization supervised or controlled by, or established in connection with, a religious organization, an individual employed by a religious organization acting within the scope of employment, or a minister or other member of the clergy may not be required to administer a marriage ceremony or provide services, accommodations, facilities, goods, or privileges for a purpose related to a marriage ceremony if the action would cause the organization or individual to violate a sincerely held religious belief."

SECTION    3.    This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.