Rep. Steve Rawlings filed legislation on Tuesday that would prevent state and local governments from discriminating against individuals and organizations because of their religious beliefs.
“Faith-based organizations have provided necessary, lifesaving services to Kentuckians since early statehood and have partnered with both state and local governments for decades,” Rawlings said. “Unfortunately, we’ve recently seen the administration take actions that call that relationship into question. This is an opportunity to settle the issue once and for all.”
Rawlings pointed specifically to concerns raised when the Cabinet for Health and Family Services delayed contracting with Sunrise Children’s Services because of the organization’s religious convictions.
Actions prohibited by HB 204 include, but are not limited to, withholding benefits; assessing penalties; and excluding from a government program or governmental facilities.
HB 204 allows those discriminated against to seek civil relief through the courts that could include compensatory damages and other monetary awards. The bill was modeled after similar legislation passed in other states, most recently in Montana.
“The legislature has made strong progress in ensuring that our places of worship do not come under scrutiny ever again, and with this legislation I hope everyone in the state feels as if they can participate in worship without fear of discrimination,” Rawlings said.
