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H. 4446
STATUS INFORMATION
General Bill
Sponsors: Reps. Hamilton, V.S. Moss, Atwater, Yow, Gambrell and Gagnon
Document Path: l:\council\bills\nbd\11130cz16.docx
Companion/Similar bill(s): 4508
Introduced in the House on January 12, 2016
Currently residing in the House Committee on Judiciary
Summary: South Carolina Pastor Protection Act
HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE ACTIONS
Date Body Action Description with journal page number
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12/3/2015 House Prefiled
12/3/2015 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
1/12/2016 House Introduced and read first time (House Journal-page 67)
1/12/2016 House Referred to Committee on Judiciary
(House Journal-page 67)
1/13/2016 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Yow
2/2/2016 House Member(s) request name added as sponsor: Gambrell, Gagnon
View the latest legislative information at the website
VERSIONS OF THIS 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 PROVIDE THAT A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, AN ORGANIZATION SUPERVISED BY A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION, AN INDIVIDUAL EMPLOYED BY A RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION OR A MINISTER OR OTHER MEMBER OF THE CLERGY MAY NOT BE REQUIRED TO PERFORM A MARRIAGE CEREMONY IF IT WOULD CAUSE THE ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL TO VIOLATE A SINCERELY HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEF; AND 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 THE INDIVIDUAL OR ORGANIZATION.
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 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.
(B) A person 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."
SECTION 3. This act takes effect upon approval by the Governor.
This web page was last updated on
February 2, 2016 at 1:18 PM