H. B. 2830

                        (By Delegates Arvon, Canterbury, Azinger, Frich, Moffatt,

                                      Moye, Butler, Sobonya, R. Phillips, Perry and Fast)

                        [Introduced February 20, 2015; referred to the

                        Committee on the Judiciary.]

A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §5-11C-1, §5-11C-2, §5-11C-3, §5-11C-4, §5-11C-5, §5-11C-6 and §5-11C-7, all relating to establishing the West Virginia Freedom of Conscience Protection Act to ensure that, in all cases where state action burdens the exercise of religion, strict scrutiny is applied and to provide a claim or defense to a person or persons whose exercise of religion is burdened by state action; short title; definitions; applicability; construction; remedies; effective date; and severability.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

            That the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended by adding thereto a new article, designated §5-11C-1, §5-11C-2, §5-11C-3, §5-11C-4, §5-11C-5, §5-11C-6 and §5-11C-7, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 11C. WEST VIRGINIA FREEDOM OF CONSCIENCE PROTECTION ACT.

§5-11C-1. Short title.

            This article shall be known and may be cited as the "West Virginia Freedom of Conscience Protection Act."

§5-11C-2. Findings.

            The Legislature finds that:

            (a) The free exercise of conscience is an unalienable right held by the people.

            (b) No state action should burden or is intended to burden sincere religious exercise unless both the burden is necessary to further a compelling governmental interest and no less restrictive means exist to achieve that compelling governmental interest.

            (c) This a workable test for striking sensible balances between the freedom of conscience and competing governmental interests.

§5-11C-3. Purposes.

            The purpose of this article is to:

            (1) Ensure that in all cases where state action burdens the exercise of religion strict scrutiny is applied; and

            (2) Provide a claim or defense to a person or persons whose exercise of religion is burdened by state action.

§5-11C-4. Definitions.

            As used in the Freedom of Conscience Protection Act:

            (1) "Burden" means any action that directly or indirectly constrains, inhibits, curtails or denies the exercise of religion by any person or compels any action contrary to a person's exercise of religion. "Burden" includes, but is not limited to, any state action withholding benefits, assessing criminal, civil or administrative penalties or damages or exclusion from governmental programs or access to governmental facilities.

            (2) "Compelling governmental interest" means a governmental interest of the highest magnitude that cannot otherwise be achieved without burdening the exercise of religion.

            (3) "Exercise of religion" means the sincere practice or observance of religion or religious conscience. It includes, but is not limited to, the ability to act or refuse to act in a manner substantially motivated by one's sincerely held religious beliefs or religious conscience, whether or not the exercise is compulsory or central to a larger system of religious belief.

            (4) "Person" means any individual, association, partnership, corporation, church, religious institution, estate, trust, foundation or other legal entity.

            (5) "State action" means the implementation or application of any law, including, but not limited to, state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and policies, whether statutory or otherwise, or other action by the state or any political subdivision of the state, or any local government, municipality, instrumentality or public official authorized by law in the state.

§5-11C-5. Applicability; construction; remedies.

            (a) State action may not burden a person's right to exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, unless it is demonstrated that applying the burden to that person's exercise of religion in this particular instance:

            (1) Is essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and

            (2) Is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.

            (b) This article shall be construed in favor of a broad protection of religious exercise to the maximum extent permitted by the term of this article and the state and federal Constitutions.

            (c) A person whose exercise of religion has been burdened, or is likely to be burdened, in violation of this article may assert such violation or impending violation as a claim or defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding. The right to religious exercise secured under this article may be asserted between private parties whether or not a state or local governmental actor is a party to the proceeding.

            (d) Consistent with the state Constitution's reservation of sovereign immunity, under this article, neither the State of West Virginia nor a state agency may be named as defendants nor may any relief enter against them. This section does not waive or abrogate immunity for the Legislature, the executive branch or waive judicial immunity for state judges acting in a judicial capacity.

            (e) A person whose exercise of religion has been burdened, or is likely to be burdened, in violation of this article may obtain appropriate relief against persons named as parties to a judicial proceeding. Appropriate relief is defined as injunctive, declaratory, mandamus and prohibitory relief, as well as costs and reasonable attorney's fees. In a suit under this article against a state official acting in an official capacity, any award of fees and costs may not exceed the official's liability insurance limits payable by the official's insurance carrier. Appropriate relief may not include compensatory damages, consequential damages, punitive damages or any other form of monetary relief.

            (f) All laws and state action in existence at the time of the enactment of this article are subject to this article. Any law or state action adopted after the time of enactment of this article is also subject to this article, unless the Legislature explicitly excludes the application of this article to a law by reference to this article.

§5-11C-6. Effective date.

            This article becomes operative upon its enactment.

§5-11C-7. Severability.

            If any subsection or portion of this article is declared invalid, that declaration shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions.

            NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create the West Virginia Freedom of Conscience Protection Act to ensure that, in all cases where state action burdens the exercise of religion, strict scrutiny is applied and to provide a claim or defense to a person or persons whose exercise of religion is burdened by state action.

            This article is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.