Bill Text: NJ A142 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Provides that public official may refuse to solemnize civil unions if solemnization conflicts with public official's conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-12 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [A142 Detail]

Download: New_Jersey-2010-A142-Introduced.html

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ASSEMBLY, No. 142

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

214th LEGISLATURE

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION

 

 

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman  ALISON LITTELL MCHOSE

District 24 (Sussex, Hunterdon and Morris)

Assemblyman  GARY R. CHIUSANO

District 24 (Sussex, Hunterdon and Morris)

 

 

 

 

SYNOPSIS

     Provides that public official may refuse to solemnize civil unions if solemnization conflicts with public official's conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs.

 

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

  

An Act concerning civil unions and supplementing Title 37 of the Revised Statutes.

 

     Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

     1.  A public official authorized under R.S.37:1-13 to solemnize marriages or civil unions may refuse to solemnize civil unions if such solemnization is in conflict with the public official's conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs. Refusal to solemnize civil unions under these circumstances shall not preclude a public official from solemnizing marriages and shall not constitute a violation of the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.) or any other law.

 

     2. This act shall take effect on February 19, 2007.

 

 

STATEMENT

 

     P.L.2006, c.103, enacted December 21, 2006, authorizes same-sex civil unions in this State.  This bill provides that a public official authorized to solemnize marriages or civil unions may refuse to solemnize civil unions if such solemnization is in conflict with the public official's conscience or sincerely held moral or religious beliefs. Under the bill, refusal to solemnize civil unions under these circumstances would not preclude a public official from solemnizing marriages and would not constitute a violation of the "Law Against Discrimination," P.L.1945, c.169 (C.10:5-1 et seq.) or any other law.

     This bill would take effect on February 19, 2007, the effective date of P.L.2006, c.103.