85R10538 YDB-F     By: Hughes S.B. No. 893       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the protection of religious beliefs and moral   convictions regarding marriage.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Title 10, Government Code, is amended by adding   Subtitle H to read as follows:   SUBTITLE H.  PROHIBITED ADVERSE ACTIONS BY GOVERNMENT   CHAPTER 2400. PROTECTION OF RELIGIOUS BELIEFS AND   MORAL CONVICTIONS          Sec. 2400.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Adverse action" means any action taken by a   governmental entity to:                      (A)  withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or   otherwise deny any grant, contract, subcontract, cooperative   agreement, loan, scholarship, license, registration,   accreditation, employment, or other similar status from or to a   person;                      (B)  withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or   otherwise deny any benefit provided under a benefit program from or   to a person;                      (C)  alter in any way the tax treatment of, cause   any tax, penalty, or payment assessment against, or deny, delay, or   revoke a tax exemption of a person;                      (D)  disallow a tax deduction for any charitable   contribution made to or by a person;                      (E)  deny admission to, equal treatment in, or   eligibility for a degree from an educational program or institution   to a person; or                      (F)  withhold, reduce, exclude, terminate, or   otherwise deny access to a property, educational institution,   speech forum, or charitable fund-raising campaign from or to a   person.                (2)  "Benefit program" means any program administered   or funded by a governmental entity or federal agency that provides   assistance in the form of payments, grants, loans, or loan   guarantees.                (3)  "Governmental entity" means:                      (A)  this state;                      (B)  a board, commission, council, department, or   other agency in the executive branch of state government that is   created by the state constitution or a statute, including an   institution of higher education as defined by Section 61.003,   Education Code;                      (C)  the legislature or a legislative agency;                      (D)  the Texas Supreme Court, the Texas Court of   Criminal Appeals, a state judicial agency, the State Bar of Texas,   or a court in this state;                      (E)  a political subdivision of this state,   including a county, municipality, or special district or authority;   or                      (F)  an officer, employee, or agent of an entity   described by Paragraphs (A)-(E).                (4)  "Person" has the meaning assigned by Section   311.005, except the term does not include:                      (A)  an employee of a governmental entity acting   within the employee's scope of employment;                      (B)  a contractor of a governmental entity acting   within the scope of the contract; or                      (C)  a medical or residential custodial health   care facility to the extent of a policy or action of the facility   regarding visitation, recognition of a designated representative   for health care decision-making, or refusal to provide medical   treatment necessary to treat an illness or injury.          Sec. 2400.002.  ADVERSE ACTION PROHIBITED. Notwithstanding   any other law, a governmental entity may not take any adverse action   against any person based wholly or partly on a person's belief or   action in accordance with the person's sincerely held religious   belief or moral conviction that marriage is or should be recognized   as the union of one man and one woman or that sexual relationships   are properly reserved to such a marriage.          Sec. 2400.003.  RELIEF AVAILABLE. (a)  A person may assert   an actual or threatened violation of Section 2400.002 as a claim or   defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding and obtain:                (1)  compensatory damages;                (2)  injunctive relief;                (3)  declaratory relief; and                (4)  any other appropriate relief, including   reasonable attorney's fees.          (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, a person may commence an   action under this section and relief may be granted regardless of   whether the person has sought or exhausted available administrative   remedies.          Sec. 2400.004.  IMMUNITY WAIVED. A person who alleges a   violation of Section 2400.002 may sue the governmental entity for   the relief provided under Section 2400.003. Sovereign immunity is   waived and abolished to the extent of liability for that relief.          Sec. 2400.005.  ATTORNEY GENERAL ACTION; INTERVENTION IN   PROCEEDING. (a)  The attorney general may bring an action for   injunctive or declaratory relief against a governmental entity or   an officer or employee of a governmental entity to enforce   compliance with this chapter.          (b)  This section may not be construed to deny, impair, or   otherwise affect any authority of the attorney general or a   governmental entity acting under other law to institute or   intervene in a proceeding.          (c)  The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses   incurred in bringing, instituting, or intervening in an action   under this section, including court costs, reasonable attorney's   fees, reasonable investigative costs, witness fees, and deposition   expenses.          Sec. 2400.006.  INTERPRETATION. (a)  This chapter may not be   construed to preempt a state or federal law that is equally or more   protective of the free exercise of religious beliefs and moral   convictions or to narrow the meaning or application of a state or   federal law protecting the free exercise of religious beliefs and   moral convictions.          (b)  This chapter may not be construed to prevent a   governmental entity from providing, either directly or through a   person who is not seeking protection under this chapter, any   benefit or service authorized under state or federal law.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives   a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as   provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this   Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this   Act takes effect September 1, 2017.