Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status for SB0010

Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Creates the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. Contains provisions regarding legislative purpose, rules of construction, and severability. Provides that: all laws of this State applicable to marriage apply equally to marriages of same-sex and different-sex couples and their children; parties to a marriage and their children, regardless of whether the marriage is of a same-sex or different-sex couple, have the same benefits, protections, and responsibilities under law; parties to a marriage are included in any definition or use of terms such as "spouse", "family", "immediate family", "dependent", "next of kin", "wife", "husband", "bride", "groom", "wedlock", and other terms that refer to or denote the spousal relationship, as those terms are used throughout the law, regardless of whether the parties to a marriage are of the same sex or different sexes; and, to the extent that laws of this State adopt, refer to, or rely upon provisions of federal law as applicable to this State, parties to a marriage of the same sex and their children shall be treated under the laws of this State as if federal law recognized the marriages of same-sex couples in the same manner as the laws of this State. Amends the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act. Makes changes concerning: parties who may marry; solemnization; use of a parish hall or other religious facility for solemnization or celebration of a marriage; prohibited marriages; and jurisdiction. Amends the Illinois Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act to make changes and additions regarding recognition of marriages and to authorize the voluntary conversion of a civil union to a marriage under specified circumstances. Contains severability provisions. Effective 30 days after becoming law.

Provides that nothing in the Act is intended to abrogate, limit, or expand the ability of a religious denomination to exercise First Amendment rights protected by the United States Constitution or the Illinois Constitution nor is it intended to abrogate, limit, or expand the Illinois Human Rights Act or the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Makes corresponding changes in other portions of the Act. Provides that no church, mosque, synagogue, temple, nondenominational ministry, interdenominational or ecumenical organization, mission organization, or other organization whose principal purpose is the study, practice, or advancement of religion is required to provide religious facilities for the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony of a marriage if the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony is in violation of its religious beliefs. Provides that the named entities shall be immune from any civil, administrative, criminal penalty, claim, or cause of action based on its refusal to provide religious facilities for the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony of a marriage if the solemnization ceremony or celebration associated with the solemnization ceremony is in violation of its religious beliefs. Defines "religious facilities" as sanctuaries, parish halls, fellowship halls, and similar facilities and excluding facilities such as businesses, health care facilities, educational facilities, or social service agencies.

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