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Owlett, Rapp co-sponsor religious freedom bill

Clint Owlett, R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter, is sponsoring House Bill 2530.

Legislation has been introduced in the Pennsylvania House to clarify the right to observe one’s religion during a state of emergency.

State Assemblywoman Kathy Rapp, R-Warren County, is one of several co-sponsors of legislation to amend Pennsylvania’s Religious Freedom Protection Act, first passed in December 2002. House Bill 2530 is sponsored by Rep. Clint Owlett, R-Tioga/Bradford/Potter, and was introduced May 19. It has been referred to the Committee on State Government.

The legislation amends state law to remove the authority of a governor to infringe on the right to assembly to worship according to a person’s faith, impact the ability to travel to or from a place of worship or to authorize any adverse action against a religious institution or members of a religious organization for exercising their religion. An adverse action is defined as the application of a civil or criminal penalty or the imposition of an administrative sanction.

House Bill 2530 would bring clarity to the situation by amending the Religious Freedom Protection Act to state that no order issued during an emergency, or control measure issued under the Disease Prevention and Control Law, may impact the free exercise of religion in the Commonwealth.

“Our religious freedoms did not go away during COVID-19 and should not be affected by the current game of red light, green light,” Owlett said in a news release. “Thanks to the vague and often confusing guidance coming from this administration, our religious organizations must know – and have clarity – that they are able to worship as they see fit in the Commonwealth as guaranteed by our state and federal constitutions, especially in an emergency declaration.”

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