,,ii  #aai? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #bijh  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,septemb] #ah          
7legislative day1 ,septemb] #af71 #bjbe 
,mr4 ,scott ( ,florida 7= himself1 ,mr4 
,lank=d1 & ,mr4 ,scott ( ,s\? ,c>ol9a7  
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on       
,f9ance  ,a ,,bill  ,to ensure equal    
treatm5t = religi\s organizations 9 !   
,f$]al provision ( social s]vices       
programs1 grantmak+1 & contract+1 & =   
o!r purposes4  #a4  ,%ort title  ,?is   
,act may be cit$ z ! ,lift+ ,local      
,communities ,act4  #b4  ,purposes  ,!  
purposes ( ?is ,act are ! foll[+3  7#a7 
,to enable assi/ance to be provid$ to   
individuals & families 9 ne$ 9 ! mo/    
effective mann]4  7#b7 ,to prohibit     
discrim9ation aga9/ religi\s            
organizations 9 receipt & adm9i/ration (
 ,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance1 includ+ !   
provision ( t assi/ance ?r\gh f$]ally   
fund$ social s]vice programs4  7#c7 ,to 
ensure t religi\s organizations c apply 

& compete = ,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance on
 a level play+ field ) nonreligi\s      
organizations4  7#d7 ,to provide c]ta9ty
 = religi\s organizations t receipt (   
,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance w n ob/ruct or
 h9d] _! ability to organize & op]ate 9 
accordance ) _! s9c]ely held religi\s   
beliefs4  7#e7 ,to /r5g!n ! social      
s]vice capacity ( ! ,unit$ ,/ates by    
facilitat+ ! entry ( new1 & ! expansion 
( exi/+1 ef=ts by religi\s organizations
 9 ! adm9i/ration & provision ( ,f$]al  
f9ancial assi/ance4  7#f7 ,to protect ! 
religi\s fre$om (1 & bett] s]ve1        
individuals & families 9 ne$1 includ+ by
 exp&+ _! ability to *oose to receive   
f$]ally fund$ social s]vices f religi\s 
organizations4  #c4  ,provision (       
s]vices = gov]nm5t programs by religi\s 
organizations  ,title ,,xxiv ( ! ,revis$
 ,/atutes is am5d$ by ins]t+ aft]       
section #aiij 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #aiid7 !   
foll[+3  #aiij;,a4  ,ensur+ equal       
treatm5t = religi\s organizations 9     
,f$]al provision ( social s]vices1      

grantmak+1 & contract+  7a7  ,9 g5]al   
,= any social s]vices program c>ri$ out 
by ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t1 or by a ,/ate1   
local gov]nm5t1 or pass-?r\gh entity )  
,f$]al funds1 ! entity t aw>ds ,f$]al   
f9ancial assi/ance %all consid] religi\s
 organizations1 on ! same basis z any   
o!r private organization1 to provide    
s]vices = ! program4  7b7  ,equal       
treatm5t = religi\s organizations 9     
,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance  7#a7  ,9     
g5]al  ,a religi\s organization %all be 
eligible to apply = & to receive ,f$]al 
f9ancial assi/ance to provide s]vices = 
a social s]vices program on ! same basis
 z a private nonreligi\s organization4  
7#b7  ,selection  ,9 ! selection (      
recipi5ts = ,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance = 
a social s]vices program nei!r ! ,f$]al 
,gov]nm5t nor a ,/ate1 local gov]nm5t1  
or pass-?r\gh entity receiv+ funds = su*
 program may discrim9ate = or aga9/ a   
private organization on ! basis (       
religion1 includ+ ! organization's      
religi\s "*1 affiliation1 or ex]cise4   

7#c7  ,prohibition aga9/ improp] burd5  
on religi\s organizations  7,a7  ,9     
,g5]al  ,except 9 ! case ( ano!r        
applicable provision ( law t requires or
 provides = a religi\s exemption or     
accommodation t is equally or m         
protective ( a religi\s organization's  
religi\s ex]cise1 ! provisions (        
subp>agraphs 7,b7 ?r\gh 7,e7 %all apply 
= any social s]vices program adm9i/]$ by
 ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t or by a ,/ate1 local
 gov]nm5t1 or pass-?r\gh entity4  7,b7  
,equal treatm5t on assurances & notices 
,no docum5t1 agreem5t1 cov5ant1 memor&um
 ( und]/&+1 policy1 or regulation1      
relat+ to ,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance %all
 require religi\s organizations to      
provide assurances or notices t are n   
requir$ ( private nonreligi\s           
organizations4  7,c7  ,equal application
 ( re/rictions  ,any re/rictions on !   
use ( funds receiv$ z ,f$]al f9ancial   
assi/ance %all apply equally to religi\s
 & private nonreligi\s organizations4   
7,d7  ,program requirem5ts  ,all        

organizations t receive ,f$]al f9ancial 
assi/ance = a social s]vices program1   
includ+ religi\s organizations1 %all    
c>ry out eligible activities 9          
accordance ) all program requirem5ts1 & 
o!r applicable requirem5ts gov]n+ !     
conduct ( activities fund$ by ! entity t
 aw>ds ,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance4  7,e7 
,no disqualification bas$ on religion   
,no docum5t1 agreem5t1 cov5ant1 memor&um
 ( und]/&+1 policy1 or regulation1      
relat+ to ,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance     
%all--  7i7 disqualify religi\s         
organizations f apply+ = or receiv+     
,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance = a social    
s]vices program on ! basis ( !          
organization's religi\s "* or           
affiliation1 or gr\nds t discrim9ate    
aga9/ ! organization on ! basis ( !     
organization's religi\s ex]cise2 or     
7ii7 prohibit ! provision ( religi\s    
activities or s]vices at ! same "t or   
location z any program receiv+ su*      
,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance4  7c7         
,religi\s "* & fre$om  7#a7  ,fre$om  ,a

 religi\s organization t applies = or   
receives ,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance = a  
social s]vices program %all reta9 its   
indep5d5ce f ,f$]al1 ,/ate1 & local     
gov]nm5ts1 includ+ its autonomy1 "r (   
expression1 religi\s "* or affiliation1 
au?ority ov] its int]nal gov]nance1 &   
o!r aspects ( indep5d5ce4  7#b7         
,religi\s "*  ,a religi\s organization t
 applies = or receives ,f$]al f9ancial  
assi/ance = a social s]vices program    
may1 among o!r ?+s--  7,a7 reta9        
religi\s t]ms 9 ! organization's "n2    
7,b7 cont9ue to c>ry out !              
organization's mission1 includ+ !       
def9ition1 developm5t1 practice1 &      
expression ( its religi\s beliefs2  7,c7
 use ! organization's facilities to     
provide a program )\t conceal+1 remov+1 
or alt]+ religi\s art1 icons1           
scriptures1 or o!r symbols f !          
facilities2  7,d7 select1 promote1 or   
dismiss ! memb]s ( ! organization's     
gov]n+ body & ! organization's employees
 on ! basis ( _! acceptance ( or adh]5ce

 to ! religi\s t5ets ( ! organization2 &
  7,e7 include religi\s ref]5ces 9 !    
organization's mission /atem5t & o!r    
*>t]+ or gov]n+ docum5ts4  7d7  ,rights 
( cov]$ b5efici>ies ( s]vices  7#a7  ,9 
g5]al  ,except z o!rwise provid$ 9 any  
applicable provision ( law t requires or
 provides = a religi\s exemption or     
accommodation t is equally or m         
protective ( a religi\s organization's  
religi\s ex]cise1 an organization t     
receives ,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance "u a 
social s]vices program %all n           
discrim9ate aga9/ a cov]$ b5efici>y 9 ! 
provision ( a f$]ally fund$ program on !
 basis ( religion1 a religi\s belief1 or
 a refusal to hold a religi\s belief4   
7#b7  ,special rule  ,x %all n be       
consid]$ discrim9ation "u p>agraph 7#a7 
= a program fund$ by ,f$]al f9ancial    
assi/ance to refuse to modify any       
compon5ts ( ! program to accommodate a  
cov]$ b5efici>y :o p>ticipates 9 !      
organization's program4  7#c7           
,alt]native s]vices  ,if a cov]$        

b5efici>y has an objection to ! "* or   
affiliation ( ! private organization f  
:i* ! b5efici>y receives1 or w\ld       
receive1 s]vices z "p ( ! f$]ally fund$ 
social s]vices program1 ! appropriate   
,f$]al1 ,/ate1 or local gov]nm5tal      
entity %all provide to su* b5efici>y 7if
 o!rwise eligible = su* s]vices7 )9 a   
reasonable p]iod ( "t aft] ! date ( su* 
objection1 a ref]ral = alt]native       
s]vices t--  7,a7 are reasonably        
accessible to ! cov]$ b5efici>y2 &  7,b7
 h a sub/antially simil> value to !     
s]vices t ! cov]$ b5efici>y w\ld        
initially h receiv$ f su* organization4 
7#d7  ,def9ition  ,9 ?is subsection1 !  
t]m cov]$ b5efici>y means an individual 
:o applies = or receives s]vices "u a   
social s]vices program4  7e7  ,religi\s 
exemptions  ,a religi\s organization's  
exemptions1 9 title ,,vii ( ! ,civil    
,rights ,act ( #aifd 7#db ,u4,s4,c4     
#bjjj;e et seq47 7includ+ exemption f   
prohibitions 9 employm5t discrim9ation 9
 section #gjb7;a7 ( t ,act 7#db         

,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;e-#a7;a7771 title ,,viii
 ( ! ,civil ,rights ,act ( #aifh 7#db   
,u4,s4,c4 #cfja et seq471 title ,,ix ( !
 ,education ,am5dm5ts ( #aigb 7#bj      
,u4,s4,c4 #afha et seq471 ! ,am]icans ) 
,disabilities ,act ( #aiij 7#db         
,u4,s4,c4 #abaja et seq471 ! ,religi\s  
,fre$om ,re/oration ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 
#bjjj;bb et seq471 ! ,religi\s ,l& ,use 
& ,in/itutionaliz$ ,p]sons ,act ( #bjjj 
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;cc et seq471 or any
 o!r provision 9 law provid+ an         
exemption = a religi\s organization1    
%all n be waiv$ because ( ! religi\s    
organization's p>ticipation 91 or       
receipt ( funds f1 a social s]vices     
program fund$ ) ,f$]al f9ancial         
assi/ance4  7f7  ,limit$ audit  7#a7  ,9
 ,g5]al  ,a religi\s organization       
provid+ s]vices = a social s]vices      
program us+ ,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance   
may segregate ,f$]al funds & any requir$
 mat*+ funds provid$ = su* program into 
a sep>ate acc\nt or acc\nts4 ,only !    
sep>ate acc\nts consi/+ ( ,f$]al funds &

 any requir$ mat*+ funds %all be subject
 to audit by ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t )       
respect to an audit und]tak5 = !        
purposes ( ov]sight ( ,f$]al f9ancial   
assi/ance4  7#b7  ,comm+l+ ( funds  ,if 
a religi\s organization provid+ s]vices 
= a social s]vices program us+ ,f$]al   
f9ancial assi/ance contributes !        
organization's own funds 9 addition to  
^? funds requir$ by a mat*+ requirem5t  
or agreem5t to supplem5t ,f$]al funds1 !
 organization may segregate !           
organization's own funds t are n mat*+  
funds into sep>ate acc\nts1 or comm+le !
 organization's own funds t are n mat*+ 
funds ) ! mat*+ funds4 ,if ^? funds are 
comm+l$1 ! comm+l$ funds may all be     
subject to audit by ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t4 
7g7  ,private "r ( action  ,any religi\s
 organization t alleges a violation (   
its rights "u ?is section & seeks to    
en=ce its rights "u ?is section--  7#a7 
may br+ an action 9 a c\rt ( compet5t   
jurisdiction & ass]t t violation z a    
claim1 or ass]t t violation z a def5se 9

 a judicial action2 &  7#b7 may obta9   
appropriate relief1 includ+ attorney's  
fees1 aga9/ an entity or ag5cy t        
committ$ su* violation4  7h7  ,f$]al    
preemption ( ,/ate & local laws  ,)     
respect to any ,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance
 provid$ to a religi\s organization = ! 
provision ( a social s]vice program1 or 
su* assi/ance comm+l$ ) ,/ate or local  
funds1 no ,/ate or political subdivision
 ( a ,/ate may adopt1 ma9ta91 en=ce1 or 
cont9ue 9 effect any law1 regulation1   
rule1 or requirem5t cov]$ by !          
provisions ( ?is section1 or a rule1    
regulation1 or requirem5t promulgat$ "u 
?is section4  7i7  ,con/ruction  ,!     
provisions ( ?is section %all sup]s$e   
all ,f$]al law 7includ+ /atutory & o!r  
law1 & policies us$ 9 ! implem5tation ( 
t law7 t is enact$ or issu$ be=e ! date 
( enactm5t ( ?is section4 ,no provision 
( law enact$ aft] ! date ( ! enactm5t ( 
?is section may be con/ru$ z limit+1    
sup]s$+1 or o!rwise affect+ ?is section1
 except to ! ext5t t x does s by        

specific ref]5ce to ?is section4  7j7   
,sev]ability  ,if any provision ( ?is   
section or ! application ( su* provision
 to any p]son or circum/ance is held to 
be uncon/itutional1 ! rema9d] ( ?is     
section & ! application ( ! provisions (
 su* to any p]son or circum/ance %all n 
be affect$ !reby4  7k7  ,def9itions  ,9 
?is section3 7#a7 ,discrim9ate on !     
basis ( an organization's religi\s      
ex]cise  7,a7 ,9 g5]al ,! t]m           
discrim9ate1 us$ ) respect to an        
organization's religi\s ex]cise1 means1 
on ! basis ( cov]$ conduct or           
motivation1 to disfavor an organization 
9 a selection process or 9 ov]sight1    
includ+--  7i7 by fail+ to select an    
organization2  7ii7 by disqualify+ an   
organization2 or  7iii7 by impos+ any   
condition or selection crit]ion t       
p5alizes or o!rwise disfavors an        
organization1 or has ! effect ( s       
p5aliz+ or disfavor+ an organization4   
7,b7  ,cov]$ conduct or motivation  ,9  
?is p>agraph1 ! t]m cov]$ conduct or    

motivation means--  7i7 conduct t w\ld n
 be consid]$ gr\nds to disfavor a       
nonreligi\s organization2  7ii7 conduct 
= :i* an organization mu/ or c\ld be    
grant$ an exemption or accommodation 9 a
 mann] consi/5t ) ! ,free ,ex]cise      
,clause ( ! ,fir/ ,am5dm5t to !         
,con/itution1 ! ,religi\s ,fre$om       
,re/oration ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;bb
 et seq471 or any o!r provision ref]5c$ 
9 subsection 7e72 or  7iii7 ! actual or 
suspect$ religi\s motivation = !        
organization's religi\s ex]cise4  7#b7  
,o!r def9itions  7,a7  ,f$]al f9ancial  
assi/ance  ,! t]m ,f$]al f9ancial       
assi/ance means f9ancial assi/ance f !  
,f$]al ,gov]nm5t t non-,f$]al entities  
receive or adm9i/] ?r\gh grants1        
contracts1 loans1 loan gu>antees1       
prop]ty1 coop]ative agreem5ts1 food     
commodities1 direct appropriations1 or  
o!r assi/ance1 b does n include a tax   
cr$it1 tax d$uction1 or gu>anty         
contract4  7,b7  ,pass-?r\gh entity  ,! 
t]m pass-?r\gh entity means an entity1  

includ+ a nonpr(it or nongov]nm5tal     
organization1 act+ "u a grant1 contract1
 or o!r agreem5t ) ! ,f$]al ,gov]nm5t or
 ) a ,/ate or local gov]nm5t1 su* z a   
,/ate adm9i/]+ ag5cy1 t accepts direct  
,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance z a prim>y    
recipi5t 7su* z a grant recipi5t7 &     
di/ributes t assi/ance to o!r           
organizations t1 9 turn1 provide        
gov]nm5t-fund$ social s]vices ?r\gh a   
social s]vices program4  7,c7  ,program 
,! t]m program includes ! s]vices       
provid$ ?r\gh t program4  7,d7          
,religi\s ex]cise  ,! t]m religi\s      
ex]cise has ! mean+ giv5 ! t]m 9 section
 #h ( ! ,religi\s ,l& ,use &            
,in/itutionaliz$ ,p]sons ,act ( #bjjj   
7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #bjjj;cc-#e74  7,e7      
,s]vices  ,! t]m s]vices1 us$ ) respect 
to a social s]vices program1 includes ! 
provision ( goods1 or ( f9ancial        
assi/ance1 "u ! social s]vices program4 
7,f7  ,social s]vices program  ,! t]m   
social s]vices program-- 7i7 means a    
program t is adm9i/]$ by ! ,f$]al       

,gov]nm5t1 or by a ,/ate or local       
gov]nm5t us+ ,f$]al f9ancial assi/ance1 
& t provides s]vices direct$ at r$uc+   
pov]ty1 improv+ opportunities =         
l[-income *ildr51 revitaliz+ l[-income  
communities1 emp[]+ l[-income families &
 l[-income individuals to become        
self-suffici5t1 or o!rwise help+ p 9    
ne$2 &  7ii7 includes a program t       
provides1 to p 9 ne$--  7,i7 *ild c>e   
s]vices1 protective s]vices = *ildr5 &  
adults1 s]vices = *ildr5 & adults 9 fo/]
 c>e1 adoption s]vices1 s]vices relat$  
to managem5t & ma9t5ance ( ! home1 day  
c>e s]vices = adults1 & s]vices to meet 
! special ne$s ( *ildr51 old]           
individuals1 & individuals )            
disabilities2  7,,ii7 transportation    
s]vices2  7,,iii7 job tra9+ & relat$    
s]vices1 & employm5t s]vices2  7,,iv7   
in=mation1 ref]ral1 & c\nsel+ s]vices2  
7,v7 ! prep>ation & deliv]y ( meals1    
nutrition s]vices1 & s]vices relat$ to  
s\p kit*5s or food banks2  7,,vi7 heal? 
support s]vices2  7,,vii7 lit]acy &     

m5tor+ s]vices2  7,,viii7 s]vices = !   
prev5tion & treatm5t ( juv5ile del9qu5cy
 & sub/ance abuse1 s]vices = ! prev5tion
 ( crime & ! provision ( assi/ance to ! 
victims & families ( crim9al (f5d]s1 &  
s]vices relat$ to int]v5tion 91 &       
prev5tion (1 dome/ic viol5ce2 or  7,,ix7
 s]vices relat$ to ! provision (        
assi/ance = h\s+ "u ,f$]al law4  4