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IN SB0344
Bill
Status
1/7/2016
Primary Sponsor
Travis Holdman
Click for details
AI Summary
SB 344 Summary
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Adds sexual orientation and active duty/veteran status as protected classes in Indiana civil rights law covering employment, housing, education, public accommodations, and credit transactions.
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Provides broad religious exemptions allowing religious organizations, clergy, and religiously-affiliated entities to decline services related to marriage solemnization based on sincerely held religious beliefs.
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Limits local civil rights ordinances adopted after December 31, 2015 to only protect classes already covered by state law, with violations to those restrictions being void.
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Empowers local civil rights agencies to order employer placement of veterans found to be discriminated against, though employment damages are limited to lost wages and benefits.
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Repeals the "substantially burden of religion" analysis and replaces it with a "material burden" analysis for reviewing claims involving religion, thought, speech, and assembly rights.
Legislative Description
Civil rights. Prohibits discriminatory practices in acquisition or sale of real estate, housing, education, public accommodations, employment, the extending of credit, and public contracts based on military active duty status, or sexual orientation. Provides protections for religious liberty and conscience. Limits the adoption of a civil rights ordinance after December 31, 2015, that applies to a class of persons not covered by state law. Permits local civil rights agencies to order the employment of a veteran. Provides that the changes in the act to the civil rights law and the fair housing law are nonseverable. Provides that a court is
Last Action
Committee report: amend do pass, adopted
1/28/2016