Bill > SB1328

This bill, titled the "Oklahoma Right of Conscience Act," establishes protections for individuals and certain organizations in Oklahoma based on their sincerely held religious beliefs or conscience, particularly concerning marriage, lifestyle, or behavior. It defines "individual" to include natural persons, privately-held businesses, and religious organizations, and "governmental entity" as any state or local government body or official. The act prohibits governmental entities from requiring any individual to provide services, accommodations, goods, or privileges that would be contrary to their conscience regarding marriage or specific lifestyles, or to promote, advertise, endorse, or advocate for such. Importantly, any refusal to engage in these activities will not lead to civil claims, legal actions, or penalties from the government, and individuals can use these protections as a defense in legal proceedings, with provisions for recovering attorney fees if their rights are violated. The bill also clarifies that employers must ensure services are still provided if an employee invokes these protections, unless it causes undue hardship, and includes severability clauses, clarifies that it does not permit illegal marriages, and aims for broad protection of religious exercise and conscience, with an exception for actions that endanger the life, health, safety, or business of another person. The act is set to become effective on November 1, 2016.