Bill Text: MI HB4858 | 2015-2016 | 98th Legislature | Introduced

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Bill Title: Family law; marriage and divorce; prohibiting requirement of religious official based on violation of conscience or religious beliefs to solemnize a marriage; provide for immunity under certain circumstances. Amends 1846 RS 83 (MCL 551.1 - 551.18) by adding sec. 8.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2015-09-10 - Printed Bill Filed 09/10/2015 [HB4858 Detail]

Download: Michigan-2015-HB4858-Introduced.html

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HOUSE BILL No. 4858

September 9, 2015, Introduced by Rep. Gamrat and referred to the Committee on Government Operations.

 

     A bill to amend 1846 RS 83, entitled

 

"Of marriage and the solemnization thereof,"

 

(MCL 551.1 to 551.18) by adding section 8.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 8. (1) A minister of the gospel, cleric, or religious

 

practitioner is not required to solemnize or recognize a marriage

 

that violates his or her sincerely held religious belief. A

 

minister of the gospel, cleric, or religious practitioner is immune

 

from any civil liability or civil or criminal cause of action based

 

on a refusal to solemnize or recognize a marriage that violates his

 

or her sincerely held religious belief.

 

     (2) As used in this section, "recognize" means to provide

 

religious services that are delivered by an individual who is under

 

the supervision of a religious organization and designed for a

 

married couple or a couple engaged to marry and are directly

 

related to solemnizing, celebrating, strengthening, or promoting a

 

marriage.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.