Bill Text: TX SB738 | 2021-2022 | 87th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to the right of recusal from the performance of certain marriage ceremonies.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-03-11 - Referred to State Affairs [SB738 Detail]
Download: Texas-2021-SB738-Introduced.html
87R6252 SCL-D | ||
By: Birdwell | S.B. No. 738 |
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relating to the right of recusal from the performance of certain | ||
marriage ceremonies. | ||
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: | ||
SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 2, Family Code, is amended | ||
by adding Section 2.603 to read as follows: | ||
Sec. 2.603. RECUSAL FROM PERFORMANCE OF CERTAIN MARRIAGE | ||
CEREMONIES; LIMITED LIABILITY. (a) A person authorized to conduct | ||
a marriage ceremony under Section 2.202 may recuse himself or | ||
herself from performing the ceremony based on the person's | ||
sincerely held religious belief. | ||
(b) A person who declines to perform a marriage ceremony | ||
under Subsection (a) may assert that a law, policy, or adverse | ||
action of this state violates that subsection as a defense in an | ||
administrative hearing or a criminal action or as a claim or defense | ||
in a civil action. | ||
(c) A person described by Subsection (a) is not liable in a | ||
civil action for any damages arising from the person's recusal | ||
under that subsection. | ||
(d) This section may not be construed to limit any other | ||
right, privilege, or protection afforded to an individual under the | ||
laws of the United States and this state. | ||
SECTION 2. Section 2.205, Family Code, is amended by adding | ||
Subsection (c) to read as follows: | ||
(c) This section does not prohibit a person from recusing | ||
himself or herself from conducting a marriage ceremony under | ||
Section 2.603. | ||
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives | ||
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as | ||
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this | ||
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this | ||
Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |