Session: 2019-2020

ACLU-PA Position: Oppose

HB 2530 (PN 3782) would amend Pennsylvania’s Religious Freedom Protection Act to prevent any order under a disaster declaration or measure under the Disease Prevention and Control Act from restricting religious assembly, impeding travel to or from a place of worship, or authorizing related civil/criminal penalties. While the ACLU-PA would not normally oppose a protection of religious exercise, this bill attempts to establish religious assembly as an absolute right, which would likely violate both the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions. The ACLU-PA always acknowledges that no right is absolute. There may be times, under very limited and narrowly tailored circumstances, when even religious exercise must give way to government infringement. 

 

Sponsors

Representative Clint Owlett

Status

Passed House

Session

2019 - 2020

Bill number

Position

Oppose