77th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2013 Regular Session NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within { + braces and plus signs + } . LC 3196 Senate Joint Resolution 31 Sponsored by Senator GIROD; Senators BAERTSCHIGER JR, BOQUIST, CLOSE, FERRIOLI, GEORGE, HANSELL, KNOPP, KRUSE, OLSEN, STARR, THOMSEN, WHITSETT, WINTERS SUMMARY The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's brief statement of the essential features of the measure as introduced. Proposes amendment to Oregon Constitution to limit awards of noneconomic damages against religious organizations to $1 million. Refers proposed amendment to people for their approval or rejection at next regular general election. JOINT RESOLUTION Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon: PARAGRAPH 1. The Constitution of the State of Oregon is amended by creating a new section 12 to be added to and made a part of Article XV, such section to read: { + SECTION 12. (1) Noneconomic damages may not be recovered against a religious organization in an amount that exceeds $1 million. The limitation imposed by this section applies to all subjective, nonmonetary losses, including but not limited to pain, mental suffering, emotional distress, humiliation, injury to reputation, loss of care, comfort, companionship and society, loss of consortium, inconvenience and interference with normal and usual activities apart from compensated employment. (2) For the purposes of this section, a religious organization is an organized church or group that is organized for the purpose of worship or religious teaching, and that is exempt from federal income taxation by reason of those activities. + } PARAGRAPH 2. { + The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election held throughout this state. + } ----------