Bill Text: MI HB4855 | 2015-2016 | 98th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Family law; marriage and divorce; religious official's refusal to solemnize a marriage based on violation of conscience or religious beliefs; provide immunity under certain circumstances. Amends 1846 RS 83 (MCL 551.1 - 551.18) by adding sec. 8.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-09-10 - Printed Bill Filed 09/10/2015 [HB4855 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2015-HB4855-Introduced.html

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HOUSE BILL No. 4855

September 9, 2015, Introduced by Rep. Glenn and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

     A bill to amend 1846 RS 83, entitled

 

"Of marriage and the solemnization thereof,"

 

(MCL 551.1 to 551.18) by adding section 8.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 8. (1) A minister of the gospel, cleric, or religious

 

practitioner is not required to solemnize or recognize a marriage

 

that violates his or her conscience or religious beliefs. A

 

minister of the gospel, cleric, or religious practitioner is immune

 

from any civil claim or cause of action based on a refusal to

 

solemnize or recognize a marriage that violates his or her

 

conscience or religious beliefs.

 

     (2) As used in this section:

 

     (a) "Minister of the gospel, cleric, or religious

 

practitioner" includes an individual who is ordained by a religious

 

organization.

 

     (b) "Recognize" means to provide religious-based services that

 

are both of the following:

 

     (i) Delivered by a religious organization or by an individual

 

who is managed, supervised, or directed by a religious

 

organization.

 

     (ii) Designed for a married couple or a couple engaged to

 

marry and directly related to solemnizing, celebrating,

 

strengthening, or promoting a marriage, such as religious

 

counseling programs, courses, retreats, workshops, and services

 

provided at a wedding chapel.

 

     (c) "Religious organization" means a church, seminary,

 

synagogue, temple, mosque, religious order, religious corporation,

 

association, or society whose identity is distinctive in terms of

 

common religious creed, beliefs, doctrines, practices, or rituals

 

of any faith or denomination, including a for-profit organization

 

and any organization qualifying as a church or religious

 

organization under section 501(c)(3) or 501(d) of the United States

 

internal revenue code of 1986.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.