1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
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2 1st Session of the 58th Legislature (2021)
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3 SENATE BILL 368 By: Bullard
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6 AS INTRODUCED
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7 An Act relating to the Oklahoma Religious Freedom
7 Act; amending 51 O.S. 2011, Section 253, which
8 relates to burden upon free exercise of religion;
8 prohibiting governmental declaration of religious
9 institution as nonessential; prohibiting closure or
9 restriction on religious institution under certain
10 circumstances; providing an effective date; and
10 declaring an emergency.
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13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
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14 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 51 O.S. 2011, Section 253, is
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15 amended to read as follows:
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16 Section 253. A. Except as provided in subsection B of this
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17 section, no governmental entity shall substantially burden a
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18 person’s free exercise of religion even if the burden results from a
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19 rule of general applicability.
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20 B. No governmental entity shall substantially burden a person’s
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21 free exercise of religion unless it demonstrates that application of
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22 the burden to the person is:
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23 1. Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and
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 1 2. The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling
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2 governmental interest.
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3 C. No governmental entity as defined pursuant to Section 252 of
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4 this title shall declare or deem a religious institution and any
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5 activity directly related to the institution’s discharge of its
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6 mission and purpose to be nonessential. No religious institution
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7 shall be subject to a closure or restriction for the purposes of
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8 health or security that is greater than that imposed upon any
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9 private entity facing the same or similar health or security
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10 conditions.
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11 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2021.
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12 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
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13 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
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14 declared to exist, by reason whereof this resolution shall take
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15 effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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17 58-1-90 TEK 1/12/2021 12:03:15 PM
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