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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the rights of wedding industry professionals and their |
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employees in connection with the provision of goods, services, and |
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facilities that would violate a sincerely held religious belief. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. This Act shall be known as the Professional Right |
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of Conscience for Wedding Ceremonies Act. |
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SECTION 2. Title 99, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by |
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adding Chapter 2005 to read as follows: |
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CHAPTER 2005. FREEDOM OF RELIGION FOR WEDDING INDUSTRY |
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PROFESSIONALS |
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Sec. 2005.001. RIGHTS OF CERTAIN WEDDING INDUSTRY |
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PROFESSIONALS AND THEIR EMPLOYEES. (a) In this section: |
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(1) "Person" means an individual or a private legal |
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entity, including a corporation, association, or partnership. |
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(2) "Wedding industry professional" means a person who |
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offers for sale or rent or sells or rents goods, services, |
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accommodations, or facilities for a purpose related to the |
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solemnization, formation, or celebration of any marriage. The term |
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includes a wedding planner, baker, caterer, photographer, |
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videographer, disc jockey, decorator, and wedding venue owner or |
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operator. |
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(b) A wedding industry professional or an individual |
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employed by a wedding industry professional while acting in the |
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scope of that employment may not be required to sell, rent, or |
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otherwise provide goods, services, accommodations, or facilities |
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for a purpose related to the solemnization, formation, or |
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celebration of any marriage if the action would cause the wedding |
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industry professional or employee to violate a sincerely held |
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religious belief. |
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Sec. 2005.002. DISCRIMINATION PROHIBITED. A refusal to |
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provide goods, services, accommodations, or facilities under |
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Section 2005.001 is not the basis for a civil or criminal cause of |
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action or any other action by this state or a political subdivision |
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of this state to penalize or withhold benefits or privileges, |
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including any tax exemptions or governmental contracts, grants, or |
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licenses, from any protected wedding industry professional or |
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employee. |
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Sec. 2005.003. PROTECTION UNDER OTHER LAW. To the extent |
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that a wedding industry professional or employee is entitled to |
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protection under this chapter and Subchapter G, Chapter 2, Family |
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Code, the prevailing provision is the provision that provides the |
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greater protection for the wedding industry professional or |
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employee. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |