#HB1264 KILLED 246 to 85 #nhhouse #nhpolitics

HB 1264 – AS INTRODUCED

2012 SESSION

12-2172

05/09

HOUSE BILL 1264

AN ACT establishing a religious exemption for individuals who do not wish to provide accommodations, goods, or services for marriages.

SPONSORS: Rep. Bergevin, Hills 17; Rep. Duarte, Rock 1; Rep. Sapareto, Rock 5

COMMITTEE: Judiciary

ANALYSIS

This bill permits an individual to choose not to provide accommodations, goods, or services for a marriage if doing so would violate his or her conscience or religious faith.

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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

12-2172

05/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twelve

AN ACT establishing a religious exemption for individuals who do not wish to provide accommodations, goods, or services for marriages.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

1 New Section; Freedom of Religion and Conscience in Marriage. Amend RSA 457 by inserting after section 37 the following new section:

457:37-a Freedom of Religion and Conscience in Marriage. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person, including a business owner or employee thereof, shall be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges to an individual if the request is related to the solemnization, celebration, or promotion of a marriage and providing such services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges would be a violation of the person’s conscience or religious faith. A person’s refusal to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges in accordance with this section shall not create any civil claim or cause of action or result in any state action to penalize or withhold benefits from such person.

2 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2013.