Source: http://rfraperils.com/Pennsylvania/
Timestamp: 2018-01-21 04:24:45
Document Index: 710073804

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 2401', '§ 2401', '§ 2402', '§ 2403', '§ 4548', '§ 501', '§ 2404', '§ 2405', '§ 2406', '§ 2407']

http://www.legis.state.pa.us//cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=H&SPick=20150&cosponId=19077
Current Law: 71 P.S. § 2401-2407 (2002) – Enacted: December 9, 2002
§ 2401. Short title
This act shall be known and may be cited as the Religious Freedom Protection Act.
§ 2402. Legislative findings
(2) The General Assembly intends that all laws which it has heretofore enacted or will hereafter enact and all ordinances and regulations which have been or will be adopted by political subdivisions or executive agencies shall be construed so as to avoid the imposition of substantial burdens upon the free exercise of religion without
§ 2403. Definitions
“AGENCY.” A COMMONWEALTH AGENCY OR A NON-COMMONWEALTH AGENCY. THE TERM SHALL NOT INCLUDE THE COURTS OF THIS COMMONWEALTH OR A GRAND JURY ACTING PURSUANT TO 42 PA.C.S. § 4548 (RELATING TO POWERS OF INVESTIGATING GRAND JURY). “COMMONWEALTH AGENCY.” THE COMMONWEALTH, INCLUDING THE EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT AND ITS BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS; AN INDEPENDENT ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT, BOARD AND COMMISSION; OR A PUBLIC OFFICIAL THEREOF, ACTING UNDER COLOR OF STATE LAW.
“CORRECTIONAL EMPLOYEE.” A PUBLIC OFFICIAL, EMPLOYEE, AGENT, CONTRACTOR OR VOLUNTEER WORKING FOR OR PROVIDING SERVICES RELATING TO A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY OR ITS INMATES.
“FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION.” THE PRACTICE OR OBSERVANCE OF RELIGION UNDERSECTION 3 OF ARTICLE I OF THE CONSTITUTION OF PENNSYLVANIA.
“NON-COMMONWEALTH AGENCY.” A POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, MUNICIPAL AUTHORITY OR ANY OTHER LOCAL GOVERNMENT INSTRUMENTALITY AUTHORIZED BY LAW, OR A PUBLIC OFFICIAL THEREOF, ACTING UNDER THE COLOR OF STATE LAW.
“PERSON.” AN INDIVIDUAL OR A CHURCH, ASSOCIATION OF CHURCHES OR OTHER RELIGIOUS ORDER, BODY OR INSTITUTION WHICH QUALIFIES FOR EXEMPTION FROM TAXATION UNDER SECTION 501(C)(3) OR (D) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE OF 1986 (PUBLIC LAW 99-514, 26 U.S.C. § 501).
“SUBSTANTIALLY BURDEN.” AN AGENCY ACTION WHICH DOES ANY OF THE FOLLOWING:
(1) Significantly constrains or inhibits conduct or expression mandated
by a person’s sincerely held religious beliefs.
(2) Significantly curtails a person’s ability to express adherence to
the person’s religious faith.
(3) Denies a person a reasonable opportunity to engage in activities
which are fundamental to the person’s religion.
(4) Compels conduct or expression which violates a specific tenet of a person’s religious faith.
§ 2404. Free exercise of religion protected
(a) GENERAL RULE.– Except as provided in subsection (b), an agency shall not substantially burden a person’s free exercise of religion, including any burden which results from a rule of general applicability.
(b) EXCEPTIONS.– An agency may substantially burden a person’s free exercise of religion if the agency proves, by a preponderance of the evidence, that the burden is all of the following:
§ 2405. Actions
(a) CLAIM OR DEFENSE.– A person whose free exercise of religion has been burdened or likely will be burdened in violation of section 4 may assert that violation against an agency as a claim or defense in any judicial or administrative proceeding.
(b) NOTICE.– Notwithstanding subsection (a) and except as provided in subsection (c), a person may not bring an action in court to assert a claim under this act unless, at least 30 days prior to bringing the action, the person gives written notice to the agency by certified mail, return receipt requested, informing the agency of all of the following:
(1) The person’s free exercise of religion has been or is about to be
substantially burdened by an exercise of the agency’s governmental
(2) A description of the act or refusal to act which has burdened or
will burden the person’s free exercise of religion.
(3) The manner in which the exercise of the governmental authority
burdens the person’s free exercise of religion.
(c) EXCEPTION.– A person may bring an action in court without providing the notice required by subsection (b) if any of the following occur:
(1) The exercise of governmental authority which threatens to
substantially burden the person’s free exercise of religion is
(2) The person was not informed and did not otherwise have knowledge of
the exercise of the governmental authority in time to reasonably
(3) The provision of the notice would delay an action to the extent
that the action would be dismissed as untimely.
(4) The claim or defense is asserted as a counterclaim in a pending
(d) LIMITATION.– Prior to the expiration of the 30-day period referred to in subsection (b), an agency which receives notice in accordance with subsection (b) may remedy the substantial burden on the person’s free exercise of religion.
(e) JURISDICTION.– A person alleging a violation of section 4 by a Commonwealth agency may bring an action in Commonwealth Court in accordance with this section and the applicable rules of court. In accordance with this section and applicable rules of court, a person alleging a violation of section 4 by a non-Commonwealth agency may bring an action in the court of common pleas for the county where the non-Commonwealth agency’s office is located.
(f) REMEDIES.– If a person asserts a claim or defense in accordance with this section and proves, by clear and convincing evidence, that the person’s free exercise of religion has been burdened or likely will be burdened in violation of section 4, a court may award the person such declaratory or injunctive relief as may be appropriate. No court shall award monetary damages for a violation of this act. Unless the court finds that the actions of the agency were dilatory, obdurate or vexatious, no court shall award attorney fees for a violation of this act.
(g) INMATE CLAIMS.– To the extent permitted under the Federal law, an agency shall be deemed not to have violated the provisions of this act if a rule, policy, action, omission or regulation of a correctional facility or its correctional employees is reasonably related to legitimate penological interests, including the deterrence of crime, the prudent use of institutional resources, the rehabilitation of prisoners or institutional security.
§ 2406. Applicability
(a) GENERAL RULE.– This act shall apply to any State or local law or ordinance and the implementation of that law or ordinance, whether statutory or otherwise and whether adopted or effective prior to or after the effective date of this act. Any law enacted by the General Assembly after the effective date of this act shall be subject to this act unless the General Assembly expressly excludes that law from this act by specific reference to this act. This act shall not apply to actions of the courts of this Commonwealth or to any rules of procedure or to common law adopted by the courts of this Commonwealth.
(b) EXCEPTIONS.– Notwithstanding subsection (a) and subject to existing religious exceptions, this act shall not apply to any of the following:
(1) Any criminal offense under 18 Pa.C.S. (relating to crimes and
offenses) or under the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L. 233, No. 64),
known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, which
is graded as a felony or a misdemeanor.
(2) Any provision of 75 Pa.C.S. (relating to vehicles) which does any
(i) Requires the licensing of motor vehicle operators.
(ii) Requires the registration of motor vehicles.
(iii) Requires financial responsibility for motor vehicle accidents.
(iv) Protects the public from the unsafe operation of motor vehicles
or from dangerous conditions on the highways.
(3) Any provision of law which requires physicians or professional
nurses to be properly licensed in order to practice their profession.
(4) Any provision of the act of June 13, 1967 (P.L.31, No.21), known
as the Public Welfare Code, which prevents the endangerment of the
health or safety of individuals in facilities which are licensed or
supervised under the Public Welfare Code.
(5) Any provision of the act of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known
as the Health Care Facilities Act, which requires the safe construction
or operation of licensed health care facilities.
(6) Any provision of the act of November 10, 1999 (P.L.491, No.45),
known as the Pennsylvania Construction Code Act, which prevents the
(7) Any provision of law which requires the reporting of abuse.
§ 2407. Construction
Nothing in this act shall be construed to authorize any government to prohibit or penalize the holding of any religious belief or to take any action contrary to the Constitution of the United States or the Constitution of Pennsylvania. Nothing in this act shall be construed to require a religiously affiliated health care facility to provide, allow, participate in or refer for health care services which are contrary to the religious beliefs or practices of the facility, provided that the facility shall provide notice to its patients of its policies regarding those health care services.
PA RFRA in the News
Religious leaders brazenly use “religious liberty” as though there is a constitutional right to be unreasonable.
“liberty” demanded in Zubik is extreme and unprecedented
March 7, 2016 /in Pennsylvania /by admin
November 22, 2015 /in Pennsylvania /by admin
July 8, 2015 /in Pennsylvania /by admin
As we mark the anniversary of our independence, it is fitting to celebrate that America is a diverse, pluralistic society enriched by people of every background. We are a nation, as Margaret Thatcher said, not created out of geography, language and ethnicity like the nations of Europe, but created by ideas, such as our common […]
October 6, 2014 /in Events, Pennsylvania /by admin
Monday, October 6, 2014 – 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Don’t flirt with discrimination
March 3, 2014 /in Pennsylvania /by admin