Bill H.1536

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3468 FILED ON: 2/19/2021

HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1536

By Mr. DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1536) of David F. DeCoste for legislation to protect the religious beliefs and moral convictions of citizens of the Commonwealth. The Judiciary.

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1392 OF 2019-2020.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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An Act to protect the religious beliefs and moral convictions of citizens of the Commonwealth.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

Section 1. Protected religious beliefs and moral convictions.

IN GENERAL.—The sincerely held religious beliefs or moral convictions protected by this Chapter are the belief or conviction:

(1)regarding the sex of the two individuals who may enter into a marriage;

(2)that male (man) or female (woman) refer to an individual’s immutable biological sex as objectively determined by anatomy and genetics by time of birth.

Section 2. Protections for persons, religious organizations, and private associations.

(a)Protections for Religious Organizations.—The State government shall not take any discriminatory action against a religious organization wholly or partially on the basis that such organization:

(1)solemnizes or declines to solemnize any marriage, or provides or declines to provide services, accommodations, facilities, goods, or privileges for a purpose related to the solemnization, formation, celebration, or recognition of any marriage, based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 1.

(2)makes any employment-related decision, including but not limited to the decision whether or not to hire, terminate, or discipline an individual whose conduct or religious beliefs are inconsistent with those of the religious organization, based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 1.

(3)makes any decision concerning the sale, rental, occupancy of, or terms and conditions of occupying a dwelling or other housing under its control based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 1.

(b)Protections for Religious Adoption Agencies.—The State government shall not take any discriminatory action against a religious organization that advertises, provides, or facilitates adoption or foster care, wholly or partially on the basis that such organization has provided or declined to provide any adoption or foster-care service, or related service, based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 1.

(c)Protections for Foster and Adoptive Parents.—The State government shall not take any discriminatory action against a person who the State grants custody of a foster or adoptive child, or who seeks from the State custody of a foster or adoptive child, wholly or partially on the basis that the person guides, instructs, or raises a child, or intends to guide, instruct, or raise a child, based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 1.

(d)Protections for Healthcare Providers.—The State Government shall not take any discriminatory action against a person wholly or partially on the basis that the person declines to participate in the provision of treatments, counseling, or surgeries related to sex reassignment or gender identity transitioning or declines to participate in the provision of psychological, counseling, or fertility services based upon a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 1. This Section may not be construed to allow any person to deny visitation, recognition of a designated representative for health care decision-making, or emergency medical treatment necessary to cure an illness or injury as required by law.

(e)Protections for Providers of Certain Marriage-related Goods and Services.—The State government shall not take any discriminatory action against a person wholly or partially on the basis that the person has provided or declined to provide the following services, accommodations, facilities, goods, or privileges for a purpose related to the solemnization, formation, celebration, or recognition of any marriage, based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 1:

(1)photography, poetry, videography, disc-jockey services, wedding planning, printing, publishing, counseling, or similar marriage-related goods or services; or

(2)floral arrangements, dress making, cake or pastry artistry, assembly-hall or other wedding-venue rentals, limousine or other car-service rentals, jewelry sales and services, or similar marriage-related services, accommodations, facilities, or goods.

(f)Protections for Sex-Specific Policies in Intimate Facilities and Settings.—The State government shall not take any discriminatory action against a person wholly or partially on the basis that the person establishes sex-specific standards or policies concerning employee or student dress or grooming, or concerning access to restrooms, spas, baths, showers, dressing rooms, locker rooms, or other intimate facilities or settings, based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 1.

(g)Protections for State Employee Speech.—The State government shall not take any discriminatory action against a state employee wholly or partially on the basis that such employee lawfully speaks or engages in expressive conduct based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 1 so long as:

(1)if the employee’s speech or expressive conduct occurs in the workplace, that speech or expressive conduct is consistent with the time, place, manner, and frequency of any other expression of a religious, political, or moral belief or conviction allowed; or

(2)if the employee’s speech or expressive conduct occurs outside the workplace, that speech or expressive conduct is in the employee’s personal capacity and outside the course of performing work duties.

(h)Protections for State Employees or Officials That License or Solemnize Marriages.—

(1)Any person employed or acting on behalf of the State government who has authority to authorize or license marriages, including but not limited to clerks, registers of deeds, or their deputies, may seek recusal from authorizing or licensing lawful marriages based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 1. Any person making such recusal shall provide prior written notice to the [State Registrar], and the State government shall not take any discriminatory action against that person wholly or partially on the basis of such recusal. The [State Registrar] shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the authorization and licensing of any legally valid marriage is not impeded or delayed as a result of any recusal.

(2)Any person employed or acting on behalf of the State government who has authority to perform or solemnize marriages, including but not limited to judges, magistrates, justices of the peace, or their deputies, may seek recusal from performing or solemnizing lawful marriages based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 1. Any person making such recusal shall provide prior written notice to the [State Agency], and the State government shall not take any discriminatory action against that person wholly or partially on the basis of such recusal. The [State Agency] shall take all necessary steps to ensure that the performance or solemnization of any legally valid marriage is not impeded or delayed as a result of any recusal.

Section 3. Prohibited discriminatory actions.

(a)Discriminatory Action Defined.—As used in this Chapter, discriminatory action means and includes any action taken by the State government to:

(1)alter in any way the tax treatment of, or cause any tax, penalty, or payment to be assessed against, or deny, delay, revoke, or otherwise make unavailable an exemption from taxation of any person referred to in Section 2 of this Chapter;

(2)disallow, deny, or otherwise make unavailable a deduction for state tax purposes of any charitable contribution made to or by such person;

(3)withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, materially alter the terms or conditions of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny any state grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative agreement, guarantee, loan, scholarship, or other similar benefit from or to such person;

(4)withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, materially alter the terms or conditions of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny any entitlement or benefit under a state benefit program from or to such person;

(5)impose, levy, or assess a monetary fine, fee, penalty, damages award, or injunction; or

(6)withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, materially alter the terms or conditions of, or otherwise make unavailable or deny any license, certification, accreditation, custody award or agreement, diploma, grade, recognition, or other similar benefit, position, or status from or to any person.

(7) refuse to hire or promote, force to resign, fire, demote, sanction, discipline, materially alter the terms or conditions of employment, or retaliate or take other adverse employment action against a person employed or commissioned by the State government.

(b)Accreditation, Licensure, Certification.—The State government shall consider accredited, licensed, or certified any person that would otherwise be accredited, licensed, or certified, respectively, for any purposes under state law but for a determination against such person wholly or partially on the basis that the person believes, speaks, or acts in accordance with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 1.

Section 4. Claim or defense against state action.

(a)Cause of Action and Defense.—A person may assert a violation of this Chapter as a claim against the State government in any judicial or administrative proceeding or as a defense in any judicial or administrative proceeding without regard to whether the proceeding is brought by or in the name of the State government, any private person, or any other party.

(b)Administrative Remedies Not Required.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an action under this Chapter may be commenced, and relief may be granted, in a court of the State without regard to whether the person commencing the action has sought or exhausted available administrative remedies.

Section 5. Remedies.

Any person who successfully asserts a claim or defense under this Chapter may recover:

(1)declaratory relief;

(2)injunctive relief to prevent or remedy a violation of this Chapter or the effects of such a violation;

(3)compensatory damages for pecuniary and non-pecuniary losses;

(4)reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs; and

(5) any other appropriate relief;

except only declaratory relief and injunctive relief shall be available against a private person not acting under color of state law upon a successful assertion of a defense under this Chapter.

Section 6. Immunity waived.

(a)Sovereign, governmental, and qualified immunities to suit and from liability are waived and abolished to the extent of liability created by Section 5 of this Chapter, and a person may sue the State government, except state courts, for damages allowed by that Section.

(b)Notwithstanding Subsection (a), this Chapter does not waive or abolish sovereign immunity to suit and from liability under the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution.

Section 7. Rules of construction.

(a)Broad Construction.—This Chapter shall be construed in favor of a broad protection of free exercise of religious beliefs and moral convictions, to the maximum extent permitted by the state and federal constitutions.

(b)No Preemption, Repeal, or Narrow construction.—The protection of free exercise of religious beliefs and moral convictions afforded by this Chapter are in addition to the protections provided under federal law, state law, and the state and federal constitutions. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to preempt or repeal any state or local law that is equally or more protective of free exercise of religious beliefs or moral convictions. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to narrow the meaning or application of any state or local law protecting free exercise of religious beliefs or moral convictions. And nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent the State government from providing, either directly or through an individual or entity not seeking protection under this Chapter, any benefit or service authorized under state law.

(c)Supersede Other State Law.—This Chapter applies to, and in cases of conflict supersedes, each statute of the State that impinges upon the free exercise of religious beliefs and moral convictions protected by this Chapter, unless a conflicting statute is expressly made exempt from the application of this Chapter. This Chapter also applies to, and in cases of conflict supersedes, any ordinance, rule, regulation, order, opinion, decision, practice, or other exercise of the State government’s authority that impinges upon the free exercise of religious beliefs and moral convictions protected by this Chapter.

(d) Severability.—If any provision of this Chapter or any application of such provision to any particular person or circumstance is held to be invalid under law, the remainder of this Chapter and the application of its provisions to any other person or circumstance shall not be affected.

Section 8. Two-year limitations period.

A person must bring an action to assert a claim under this Chapter not later than two years after the date that the person knew or should have known that a discriminatory action was taken against that person.

Section 9. Definitions.

In this Chapter:

(a) State benefit program.—The term “state benefit program” means any program administered or funded by the State, or by any agent on behalf of the State, providing cash, payments, grants, contracts, loans, or in-kind assistance.

(b) State government.—The term “State government” means:

(1)the State or a political subdivision of the State;

(2)any agency of the State or of a political subdivision of the State, including a department, bureau, board, commission, council, court, or public institution of higher education;

(3)any person acting under color of state law; and

(4) any private person suing under or attempting to enforce a law, rule, or regulation adopted by the State or a political subdivision of the State.

(1) a natural person, in his or her individual capacity, regardless of religious affiliation or lack thereof, or in his or her capacity as a member, officer, owner, volunteer, employee, manager, religious leader, clergy, or minister of any entity described in this Section;

(2) a religious organization;

(3) a sole proprietorship, partnership, trust, closely held corporation, or other closely held entity operating with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction described in Section 1; or

(4) cooperatives, ventures, or enterprises comprised of two or more individuals or entities described in this subsection regardless of non-profit or for-profit status.

(d) Religious organization.—The term “religious organization” means:

(1) a house of worship, including but not limited to churches, synagogues, shrines, mosques, and temples;

(2) a religious group, corporation, association, school or educational institution, ministry, order, society, or similar entity, regardless of whether it is integrated or affiliated with a church or other house of worship.

(3) an officer, owner, employee, manager, religious leader, clergy, or minister of an entity or organization described in this subsection.

(e)Adoption or Foster Care.—The term “adoption or foster care” or “adoption or foster-care service” means social services provided to or on behalf of children, including:

(1) assisting abused or neglected children;

(2) teaching children and parents occupational, homemaking, and other domestic skills;

(3) promoting foster parenting;

(4) providing foster homes, residential care, group homes, or temporary group shelters for children;

(5) recruiting foster parents;

(6) placing children in foster homes;

(7) licensing foster homes;

(8) promoting adoption or recruiting adoptive parents;

(9) assisting adoptions or supporting adoptive families;

(10) performing or assisting home studies;

(11) assisting kinship guardianships or kinship caregivers;

(12) providing family preservation services;

(13) providing family support services; and

(14) providing temporary family reunification services.

Name:	District/Address:	Date Added:
David F. DeCoste	5th Plymouth	2/19/2021