,,ii  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #dib  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!       
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,febru>y #af1 #bjbc,mr4
 ,rubio 7= himself & ,mr4 ,lee7         
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !     
,judici>y  ,a ,,bill  ,to prohibit !    
imposition ( c]ta9 sub/antial burd5s1   
relat+ to ,,covid-#ai vacc9e m&ates1 on 
religi\s ex]cise1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4
 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !  
,consci5ce ,objections to ,neglig5t     
,/ate ,,covid-#ai ,inoculation ,edicts  
,ne$ ,con/itutional ,en=cem5t ,act (    
#bjbc or ! ,,consci5ce ,act ( #bjbc4    
#b4 ,f9d+s & purpose  7a7 ,f9d+s        
,congress f9ds ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,9        
response to ! ,,covid-#ai p&emic1 ,/ate 
& local gov]nm5ts & private sector      
entities h implem5t$ unprec$5t$ public  
heal? requirem5ts1 includ+ requirem5ts t
 _! employees1 cu/om]s1 & o!r p]sons    
receive a ,,covid-#ai vacc9e 7ref]r$ to 
9 ?is section z ,,covid-#ai vacc9e      
m&ates71 result+ 9 millions ( ,am]icans 

be+ subject to su* requirem5ts4  7#b7   
,_m ,,covid-#ai vacc9e m&ates1 due to _!
 unprec$5t$ magnitude & scope (         
application1 & ! unprec$5t$ ha/e ( &    
inatt5tion to ! religi\s ex]cise (      
p]sons subject to ! m&ates by !         
organizations implem5t+ !m1 d n         
adequately protect ! religi\s fre$om ( !
 p]sons subject to !m4  7#c7 ,z a       
result1 millions ( ,am]icans h object$  
to ,,covid-#ai vacc9e m&ates--m ?an =   
any o!r m$ical requirem5t = employm5t or
 = use ( a public accommodation 9 rec5t 
hi/ory--(t5 at great p]sonal co/1 on !  
basis t receiv+ a ,,covid-#ai vacc9e    
w\ld violate _! s9c]ely held religi\s   
beliefs4  7#d7 ,,covid-#ai vacc9e m&ates
 commonly ?reat5 ! rights ( employees & 
o!r p]sons to religi\s ex]cise by       
requir+ p]sons subject to ! m&ates to-- 
7,a7 receive a ,,covid-#ai vacc9e 7)    
respect to private entities1 (t5 "u !   
color ( law71 9 violation ( _! s9c]ely  
held religi\s beliefs2 or  7,b7 o!rwise 
face sub/antial burd5s su* z ! loss (   

employm5t1 pay1 or /atus )9 employm5t1 !
 subjection to punitive p]sonal public  
heal? measures1 or any o!r loss caus$ by
 a failure to accommodate religi\s      
ex]cise4  7#e7 ,) respect to ,,covid-#ai
 vacc9e m&ates implem5t$ by ! ,/ates & !
 ,di/rict ( ,columbia1 ! rights ( p]sons
 "u ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t to ! ,con/itution (
 ! ,unit$ ,/ates :o are subject to su*  
requirem5ts h be5 violat$ 9 ! foll[+    
ways3 7,a7 ,,covid-#ai vacc9e m&ates =  
,/ate employees 9 ! ,/ates ( ,new ,york1
 ,ma9e1 & ,rhode ,isl& h all[$ = m$ical 
exemptions f ! ,,covid-#ai vacc9e1 b h n
 all[$ = religi\s exemptions4  7,b7 ,!  
,gov]nor ( ,new ,york has /at$ t-- 7i7  
,new ,york int5tionally exclud$ religi\s
 exemptions f ! ,,covid-#ai vacc9ation  
m&ate2 &  7ii7 ! ,gov]nor 0 unaw>e ( any
 organiz$ religion t seeks religi\s     
exemptions = ! ,,covid-#ai vacc9e & ^?  
individuals :o seek su* an exemption are
 n li/5+ to ,god & :at ,god wants24     
7,c7 ,new ,york has all[$ ,,covid-#ai   
vacc9at$ work]s ) symptomatic1 active   

,,covid-#ai infections to cont9ue work+ 
9 hospitals1 b has n all[$ religi\s     
objectors :o d n h ,,covid-#ai to "w 9  
hospitals4  7,d7 ,ma9e remov$ ! all[ance
 = religi\s exemptions = heal? c>e      
work]s1 effective ,septemb] #a1 #bjba1 9
 a law requir+ all heal? c>e work]s to  
receive ! ,,covid-#ai vacc9e & influ5za 
vacc9e4  7,e7 ,rhode ,isl& omitt$       
religi\s exemptions to ,,covid-#ai      
vacc9es4  7,f7 ,9 ,rhode ,isl&1 heal?   
c>e work]s h be5 requir$ to receive !   
,,covid-#ai vacc9e1 & heal? c>e         
facilities are requir$ to d5y entry to  
heal? c>e work]s or provid]s :o are n   
fully vacc9at$4  7#f7 ,) respect to     
,,covid-#ai vacc9e m&ates implem5t$ by  
private sector entities1 ,unit$ ,airl9es
 in/itut$ an absolute policy requir+ all
 employees to receive ! ,,covid-#ai     
vacc9e1 & ^? :o submitt$ reque/s =      
religi\s exemptions 7 ei!r automatically
 d5i$ or plac$ on unpaid leave ) no     
b5efits4  7#g7 ,,covid-#ai vacc9e m&ates
 t d n accommodate religi\s ex]cise h   

result$ 9 labor %ortages t affect       
int]/ate & =eign comm]ce4  7#h7 ,accord+
 to a report by ! ,committee on ,small  
,bus9ess & ,entrepr5eur%ip ( ! ,s5ate1 !
 ,f$]al ,,covid-#ai vacc9e requirem5t   
put an e/imat$ #dd1ijj1jjj ,am]icans at 
risk ( los+ _! jobs ow+ to _! refusal to
 receive a ,,covid-#ai vacc9e4 ,a       
sub/antial numb] ( ^? refusals may be   
attribut$ to religi\s objections1 z     
accord+ to a survey by ! ,public        
,religion ,rese>* ,in/itute1 #aj p]c5t (
 ,am]icans believe t receiv+ a          
,,covid-#ai vacc9e w\ld conflict ) _!   
religi\s beliefs4  7#i7 ,9 ,doe v4      
,mills1 #adb ,s4 ,ct4 #ag 7#bjba7 & ,dr4
 ,a4 v4 ,ho*ul1 #adb ,s4 ,ct4 #eeb      
7#bjba71 ! ,supreme ,c\rt d5i$ ! reque/s
 ( employees reque/+ religi\s exemptions
 to ,,covid-#ai vacc9e m&ates1 caus+ ^? 
employees to face irrep>able h>m4  7#aj7
 ,! ,free ,ex]cise ,clause ( ! ,fir/    
,am5dm5t to ! ,con/itution protects     
rights ( individuals to live out _!     
religi\s beliefs publicly ?r\gh religi\s

 ex]cise4  7#aa7 ,congress has ! p[] to 
en=ce ! "r to free ex]cise ( religion1  
?r\gh rem$ial measures "u section #e ( !
 #ad? ,am5dm5t to ! ,con/itution4  7#ab7
 ,laws t protect ! free ex]cise (       
religi\s beliefs are consi/5t ) ! f\nd+ 
pr9ciples ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates &           
protections "u ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t to !    
,con/itution4  7#ac7 ,congress has ! p[]
 to regulate int]/ate & =eign comm]ce "u
 ! ,comm]ce ,clause ( section #h (      
article ,i ( ! ,con/itution4  7b7       
,purpose ,! purpose ( ?is ,act is to    
preempt laws & disall[ practices t      
discrim9ate aga9/ p]sons due to _!      
religi\s ex]cise4  #c4 ,def9itions ,9   
?is ,act3 7#a7 ,cov]$ p]son ,! t]m cov]$
 p]son means a p]son rais+ a claim or   
def5se "u ?is ,act4  7#b7 ,,covid-#ai   
vacc9e m&ate ,! t]m ,,covid-#ai vacc9e  
m&ate means a m&ate t an individual     
receive a ,,covid-#ai vacc9e4  7#c7     
,demon/rates ,! t]m demon/rates means   
meets ! burd5s ( go+ =w>d ) ! evid5ce & 
( p]suasion4  7#d7 ,free ex]cise clause 

,! t]m ,free ,ex]cise ,clause means t   
portion ( ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t to !         
,con/itution ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates t        
proscribes laws prohibit+ ! free ex]cise
 ( religion4  7#e7 ,gov]nm5t ,! t]m     
gov]nm5t-- 7,a7 means-- 7i7 a ,/ate1    
c\nty1 municipality1 or o!r gov]nm5tal  
entity creat$ "u ! au?ority ( a ,/ate2  
7ii7 any bran*1 dep>tm5t1 ag5cy1        
in/rum5tality1 or (ficial ( an entity   
li/$ 9 clause 7i72 &  7iii7 any o!r     
p]son act+ "u color ( ,/ate law2 &  7,b7
 = ! purpose ( sections #e7;b7 & #f1    
includes-- 7i7 ! ,unit$ ,/ates2  7ii7   
any bran*1 dep>tm5t1 ag5cy1             
in/rum5tality1 or (ficial ( ! ,unit$    
,/ates2 &  7iii7 any o!r p]son act+ "u  
color ( ,f$]al law4  7#f7 ,program or   
activity ,! t]m program or activity     
means all ( ! op]ations ( any entity z  
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 or 7#b7 (      
section #fjf ( ! ,civil ,rights ,act (  
#aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;d-#d;a71 any 
"p ( :i* is ext5d$ ,f$]al f9ancial      
assi/ance4  7#g7 ,religi\s ex]cise  7,a7

 ,9 g5]al ,! t]m religi\s ex]cise       
includes any ex]cise ( religion1 :e!r or
 n compell$ by1 or c5tral to1 a sy/em ( 
religi\s belief4  7,b7 ,rule  7i7 ,p]son
 ,9 ! case ( a p]son1 refus+ to receive 
a ,,covid-#ai vacc9e on ! basis ( a     
s9c]ely held religi\s belief %all be    
consid]$ to be religi\s ex]cise ( !     
p]son4  7ii7 ,entity ,9 ! case ( an     
entity1 refus+ on ! basis ( a s9c]ely   
held religi\s belief to require t any   
employee1 cu/om]1 or o!r p]son affiliat$
 ) ! entity receive a ,,covid-#ai vacc9e
 m&ate %all be consid]$ to be religi\s  
ex]cise ( ! entity4  #d4 ,protection (  
religi\s lib]ty & ex]cise by exemptions 
= ! ,,covid-#ai vacc9e  7a7 ,sub/antial 
,burd5s  7#a7 ,g5]al rule ,no gov]nm5t  
%all impose or implem5t a ,,covid-#ai   
vacc9e m&ate 9 a mann] t imposes a      
sub/antial burd5 on ! religi\s ex]cise (
 a p]son1 includ+ a religi\s assembly or
 in/itution1 unless ! gov]nm5t          
demon/rates t imposition ( ! burd5 on t 
p]son's1 assembly's1 or in/itution's    

religi\s ex]cise-- 7,a7 is 9 fur!rance (
 a compell+ gov]nm5tal int]e/2 &  7,b7  
is ! lea/ re/rictive means ( fur!r+ t   
compell+ gov]nm5tal int]e/4  7#b7 ,scope
 ( application ,?is subsection &        
subsection 7b7 apply 9 any case 9 :i*-- 
7,a7 ! sub/antial burd5 is impos$ by    
,/ate law1 ev5 if ! burd5 results f a   
rule ( g5]al applicability2  7,b7 !     
sub/antial burd5 is impos$ 9 a program  
or activity t receives ,f$]al f9ancial  
assi/ance1 ev5 if ! burd5 results f a   
rule ( g5]al applicability2  7,c7 !     
sub/antial burd5 is impos$ by an entity 
t op]ates a workplace & t is p>ty to or 
conducts "w 9 connection ) a contract or
 contract-l in/rum5t ) any gov]nm5t1 ev5
 if ! burd5 results f a rule ( g5]al    
applicability2  7,d7 ! sub/antial burd5 
affects1 or removal ( t sub/antial burd5
 w\ld affect1 comm]ce ) =eign nations1  
among ! sev]al ,/ates1 or ) ,indian     
,tribes1 ev5 if ! burd5 results f a rule
 ( g5]al applicability2 or  7,e7 !      
sub/antial burd5 is impos$ 9 !          

implem5tation ( a ,,covid-#ai vacc9e    
m&ate1 "u :i* ! gov]nm5t makes1 or has 9
 place =mal or in=mal proc$ures or      
practices t p]mit ! gov]nm5t to make1   
individualiz$ assessm5ts ( ,,covid-#ai  
vacc9e exemptions1 ev5 if ! burd5       
results f a rule ( g5]al applicability4 
7b7 ,discrim9ation & exclusion  7#a7    
,equal t]ms ,no gov]nm5t %all impose or 
implem5t a ,,covid-#ai vacc9e m&ate 9 a 
mann] t treats a religi\s ex]cise       
7includ+ a condition7 on less ?an equal 
t]ms ) a nonreligi\s ex]cise 7includ+ a 
condition74  7#b7 ,nondiscrim9ation ,no 
gov]nm5t %all impose or implem5t a      
,,covid-#ai vacc9e m&ate t imposes a    
sub/antial burd5 on any p]son = an      
ex]cise on ! basis ( religion1 includ+ a
 religi\s d5om9ation4  7#c7 ,exclusions 
& limits ,no gov]nm5t %all impose or    
implem5t a ,,covid-#ai vacc9e m&ate t-- 
7,a7 totally excludes religi\s          
exemptions2 or  7,b7 unreasonably limits
 religi\s exemptions4  #e4 ,judicial    
relief  7a7 ,cause ( action ,a cov]$    

p]son may ass]t an actual or ?reat5$    
violation ( ?is ,act by a gov]nm5t z a  
claim or def5se 9 a judicial or         
adm9i/rative proce$+ & obta9 comp5satory
 damages1 injunctive relief1 decl>atory 
relief1 or any o!r appropriate relief   
aga9/ ! gov]nm5t involv$4 ,/&+ to ass]t 
a claim or def5se "u ?is section %all be
 gov]n$ by ! g5]al rules ( /&+ "u       
article ,,iii ( ! ,con/itution4  7b7    
,burd5 ( p]suasion ,if a cov]$ p]son    
produces prima facie evid5ce to support 
a claim alleg+ a violation ( ! ,free    
,ex]cise ,clause or a violation (       
section #d1 ! gov]nm5t %all be> ! burd5 
( p]suasion on any elem5t ( ! claim1    
except t ! cov]$ p]son %all be> ! burd5 
( p]suasion on :e!r ! law 7includ+ a    
regulation7 or gov]nm5t practice t is   
*all5g$ by ! claim sub/antially burd5s !
 cov]$ p]son's ex]cise ( religion4  7c7 
,adm9i/rative rem$ies n requir$ ,not)/&+
 any o!r provision ( law1 an action "u  
?is section may be comm5c$1 & relief may
 be grant$1 9 a di/rict c\rt ( ! ,unit$ 

,/ates )\t reg>d to :e!r ! cov]$ p]son  
comm5c+ ! action has s\ght or exhau/$   
available adm9i/rative rem$ies4  7d7    
,full fai? & cr$it ,adjudication ( a    
claim ( a violation ( section #d 9 a    
non-,f$]al =um %all n be entitl$ to full
 fai? & cr$it 9 a ,f$]al c\rt unless !  
claimant _h a full & fair adjudication (
 t claim 9 ! non-,f$]al =um4  7e7       
,attorneys' fees ,section #gbb7;b7 ( !  
,revis$ ,/atutes 7#db ,u4,s4,c4         
#aihh7;b77 is am5d$ by ins]t+ !         
,,consci5ce ,act ( #bjbc1 aft] !        
,religi\s ,l& ,use & ,in/itutionaliz$   
,p]sons ,act ( #bjjj14  7f7 ,au?ority ( 
,unit$ ,/ates ,to en=ce ?is ,act ,!     
,unit$ ,/ates may br+ an action =       
injunctive or decl>atory relief to en=ce
 compliance ) ?is ,act4 ,no?+ 9 ?is     
subsection %all be con/ru$ to d5y1      
impair1 or o!rwise affect any "r or     
au?ority ( ! ,attorney ,g5]al1 ! ,unit$ 
,/ates1 or any ag5cy1 (fic]1 or employee
 ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 act+ "u any law o!r 
?an ?is subsection1 to in/itute or      

int]v5e 9 any proce$+4  #f4 ,rules (    
con/ruction  7a7 ,religi\s belief       
unaffect$ ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all be      
con/ru$ to au?orize any gov]nm5t to     
burd5 any religi\s belief4  7b7         
,religi\s ex]cise n regulat$ ,no?+ 9 ?is
 ,act %all create any basis-- 7#a7 =    
re/rict+ or burd5+ religi\s ex]cise2 or 
7#b7 = claims aga9/ a religi\s          
organization1 includ+ any religi\sly    
affiliat$ s*ool or in/itution ( high]   
education1 n act+ "u color ( law4  7c7  
,claims to fund+ unaffect$ ,no?+ 9 ?is  
,act %all create or preclude a "r ( any 
religi\s organization to receive fund+  
or o!r assi/ance f a gov]nm5t1 or ( any 
p]son to receive gov]nm5t fund+ = a     
religi\s activity1 b ?is ,act may       
require a gov]nm5t to incur exp5ses 9   
its own op]ations to avoid impos+ a     
sub/antial burd5 on religi\s ex]cise4   
7d7 ,gov]nm5tal discretion 9 alleviat+  
burd5s on religi\s ex]cise ,a gov]nm5t  
may avoid ! preemptive =ce ( any        
provision ( ?is ,act by *ang+ ! policy  

or practice t results 9 a sub/antial    
burd5 on religi\s ex]cise1 by reta9+ !  
policy or practice & exempt+ !          
sub/antially burd5$ religi\s ex]cise1 by
 provid+ exemptions f ! policy or       
practice = applications t sub/antially  
burd5 religi\s ex]cise1 or by any o!r   
means t elim9ates ! sub/antial burd54   
7e7 ,effect on o!r law ,) respect to a  
claim br\ght "u ?is ,act1 pro( t a      
sub/antial burd5 on a p]son's religi\s  
ex]cise affects1 or removal ( t burd5   
w\ld affect1 comm]ce ) =eign nations1   
among ! sev]al ,/ates1 or ) ,indian     
,tribes1 %all n e/abli% any inf]5ce or  
presumption t any religi\s ex]cise is1  
or is n1 subject to any law o!r ?an ?is 
,act4  7f7 ,broad con/ruction ,?is ,act 
%all be con/ru$ 9 favor ( a broad       
protection ( religi\s ex]cise1 to !     
maximum ext5t p]mitt$ by ! t]ms ( ?is   
,act & ! ,con/itution4  7g7 ,no         
preemption or repeal ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act   
%all be con/ru$ to preempt ,/ate law1 or
 repeal ,f$]al law1 t is equally z      

protective ( religi\s ex]cise z1 or m   
protective ( religi\s ex]cise ?an1 ?is  
,act4  7h7 ,sev]ability ,if any         
provision ( ?is ,act or an am5dm5t made 
by ?is ,act1 or any application ( su*   
provision to any p]son or circum/ance1  
is held to be uncon/itutional1 ! rema9d]
 ( ?is ,act & ! am5dm5ts made by ?is    
,act1 & ! application ( ! provision to  
any o!r p]son or circum/ance %all n be  
affect$4  #g4 ,e/abli%m5t clause        
unaffect$ ,no?+ 9 ?is ,act %all be      
con/ru$ to affect1 int]pret1 or 9 any   
way address t portion ( ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t
 to ! ,con/itution prohibit+ laws       
respect+ an e/abli%m5t ( religion       
7ref]r$ to 9 ?is section z ! ,e/abli%m5t
 ,clause74 ,grant+ gov]nm5t fund+1      
b5efits1 or exemptions1 to ! ext5t      
p]missible "u ! ,e/abli%m5t ,clause1    
%all n con/itute a violation ( ?is ,act4
 ,9 ?is section1 ! t]m grant+1 us$ )    
respect to gov]nm5t fund+1 b5efits1 or  
exemptions1 does n include ! d5ial (    
gov]nm5t fund+1 b5efits1 or exemptions4 

#h4 ,applicability ,?is ,act applies to 
any ,,covid-#ai vacc9e m&ate1 :e!r      
adopt$ be=e1 on1 or aft] ! date (       
enactm5t ( ?is ,act4