Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/bill_status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb2477%20intr.htm&yr=2010&sesstype=RS&i=2477
Timestamp: 2018-03-18 04:52:08
Document Index: 29709770

Matched Legal Cases: ['§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1', '§1']

(By Delegates Shook and Varner)
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §1-7-1, §1-7-2, §1-7-3, §1-7-4, §1-7-5 and §1-7-6, all relating to the freedom of religion of West Virginians.
ARTICLE 7. WEST VIRGINIA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT.
This article may be cited as, "The Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 2009."
(1) The free exercise of religion is an unalienable right, protected by the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and Section 3-15, Article III of the Constitution of the State of West Virginia;
(3) Government should not substantially burden religious exercise without a compelling justification;
(2) "Demonstrates" means to meet the burden of going forward with the evidence of persuasion.
(3) "Exercise of religion" means an act or refusal to act that is substantially motivated by a religious belief, whether or not the religious exercise is compulsory or central to a larger system of religious belief.
(a) The government may not substantially burden a person's exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule or general applicability, except that government may substantially burden a person's exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application of the burden to the person:
(1) Is in futherance of a compelling governmental interest; and
(b) A person whose religious exercise has been burdened in violation of this section may assert that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and obtain appropriate relief.
(a) This article applies to all state law, and the implementation of that law, whether statutory or otherwise, and whether adopted before or after the enactment of this article.
(b) State law adopted after the date of the enactment of this article is subject to this article unless such law explicitly excludes such application by reference to this article.
(c) Nothing in this article may be construed to authorize the government to burden any religious belief.
(d) Nothing in this article may be construed to affect, interpret, or in any way address that portion of Section 3-15, Article III of the Constitution of the State of West Virginia prohibiting laws respecting the establishment of religion.
(e) Nothing in this article creates any rights by an employee against an employer if the employer is not a governmental agency.
(f) Nothing in this article may be construed to affect, interpret, or in any way address that portion of Section 3-15, Article III of the Constitution of the State of West Virginia and the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States respecting the establishment of religion. This article may not be construed to permit any practice prohibited by those provisions.