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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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relating to requiring a court of this state to uphold and apply |
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certain laws, including the doctrine requiring courts to refrain |
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from involvement in religious doctrinal interpretation or |
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application. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 21.001, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) A court shall uphold and apply the Constitution of the |
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United States, the constitution of this state, federal laws, and |
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the laws of this state, including the doctrine that is derived from |
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the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and known as |
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the church autonomy doctrine, which in part requires courts to |
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refrain from involvement in religious doctrinal interpretation or |
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application. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |