Florida Senate - 2016                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 110
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì401070fÎ401070                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                 Comm: UNFAV           .                                
                  02/17/2016           .                                
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       The Committee on Rules (Soto) recommended the following:
       
    1         Senate Substitute for Amendment (116098) (with title
    2  amendment)
    3  
    4         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    5  and insert:
    6         Section 1. Section 761.061, Florida Statutes, is created to
    7  read:
    8         761.061 Rights of certain churches or religious
    9  organizations or individuals.—
   10         (1) For the purposes of this section, the term “religious
   11  organization” means any religious corporation, association,
   12  educational institution, or society that limits opportunities in
   13  the area of employment or public accommodation to members of
   14  that religious corporation, association, educational
   15  institution, or society, or to persons who subscribe to its
   16  tenets or beliefs.
   17         (2) A church or religious organization, an individual
   18  employed by a church or religious organization while acting
   19  within the scope of that employment, a clergy member or
   20  minister, or an individual providing a ministerial function may
   21  not be required to solemnize any marriage.
   22         (3) A church or religious organization, an individual
   23  employed by a church or religious organization while acting
   24  within the scope of that employment, a clergy member or
   25  minister, or an individual providing a ministerial function may
   26  not be required to provide services, accommodations, facilities,
   27  goods, or privileges outside the meaning of s. 760.02(11) for a
   28  purpose related to the solemnization, formation, or celebration
   29  of any marriage if such an action would cause the church or
   30  religious organization, an individual employed by such an
   31  organization within the scope of that employment, a clergy
   32  member or minister acting within the scope of services or
   33  activities provided by such an organization, or an individual
   34  providing a ministerial function within the scope of services or
   35  activities provided by such an organization to violate a
   36  sincerely held religious belief of the entity or individual.
   37         (4) The terms “services,” “accommodations,” “facilities,”
   38  “goods,” or “privileges” as described in subsection (3) may not
   39  be interpreted to mean solemnization of marriage.
   40         (5) A refusal to solemnize any marriage or provide
   41  services, accommodations, facilities, goods, or privileges under
   42  subsection (2) or subsection (3) may not serve as the basis for
   43  a civil cause of action by a private person or entity or a civil
   44  or criminal cause of action or any other action by this state or
   45  a political subdivision of this state to penalize or withhold
   46  benefits or privileges, including tax exemptions or governmental
   47  contracts, grants, or licenses, from any entity or individual
   48  protected under subsection (2) or subsection (3).
   49         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.
   50  
   51  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
   52  And the title is amended as follows:
   53         Delete everything before the enacting clause
   54  and insert:
   55                        A bill to be entitled                      
   56         An act relating to churches or religious
   57         organizations; creating s. 761.061, F.S.; defining the
   58         term “religious organization”; providing that churches
   59         or religious organizations, related organizations, or
   60         certain individuals may not be required to solemnize
   61         any marriage or provide services, accommodations,
   62         facilities, goods, or privileges for related purposes
   63         if such action would violate a sincerely held
   64         religious belief; providing that certain terms do not
   65         include solemnization of marriage; prohibiting certain
   66         legal actions, penalties, or governmental sanctions
   67         against such individuals or entities; providing an
   68         effective date.