Opinion ID: 1209439
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Close Relationship Between Perceived Problem and Statutory Solution.

Text: Moreover, the presence of a substantial reason for discrimination does not alone suffice. The means employed by the challenged statute must be closely related to the interests served by the statute. Toomer, 334 U.S. at 396, 68 S.Ct. at 1162, 92 L.Ed. at 1471; Hicklin, 437 U.S. at 527, 98 S.Ct. at 2488, 57 L.Ed.2d at 405. In deciding whether the discrimination bears a close or substantial relationship to the state's objective ... the availability of less restrictive means is relevant. New Hampshire v. Piper, ___ U.S. at ___, 105 S.Ct. at 1282.