SF 2203 (LSB 5698XS (5) 83)

SENATE FILE 2203

BY  OLIVE, BLACK, and HANCOCK

A BILL FOR

An Act exempting certain entities from being required to solemnize, celebrate, or promote a marriage.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:

    Section 1.  NEW SECTION.  595.21  Exemptions —— solemnization or celebration of a marriage —— promotion of marriage. 

   1.  A religious organization, an individual who is managed, directed, or supervised by or in conjunction with a religious organization, or a nonprofit organization operated, supervised, or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, shall not be required to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges to an individual if the request for such services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges is related to the solemnization of a marriage, the celebration of a marriage, or the promotion of marriage through religious counseling, programs, courses, retreats, or housing designated for married individuals, and such solemnization, celebration, or promotion of marriage would cause the organization to violate the sincerely held religious beliefs to which the organization subscribes or the individual to violate the individual’s sincerely held religious beliefs.
   2.  Refusal to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges in accordance with this section shall not result in either of the following:
   a.  Creation of a civil claim or cause of action.
   b.  An action by the state to penalize or withhold benefits from such religious organization; from an individual who is managed, directed, or supervised by or in conjunction with such religious organization; or from a nonprofit organization operated, supervised, or controlled by or in conjunction with such religious organization.
EXPLANATION
   This bill provides an exemption for religious organizations; individuals who are managed, directed, or supervised by or in conjunction with a religious organization; and nonprofit organizations operated, supervised, or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, from a requirement to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges to an individual if the request for such services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges is related to the solemnization of a marriage, the celebration of a marriage, or the promotion of marriage through religious counseling, programs, courses, retreats, or housing designated for married individuals, and such solemnization, celebration, or promotion of marriage would cause the religious or nonprofit organization to violate the sincerely held religious beliefs to which the organization subscribes or the individual associated with the religious organization to violate the individual’s sincerely held religious beliefs. The bill also provides that refusal to provide services, accommodations, advantages, facilities, goods, or privileges in accordance with the bill shall not result in the creation of a civil claim or cause of action or an action by the state to penalize or withhold benefits from such religious organization, individual, or nonprofit organization.