Rhode Island General Laws 42-80.1-3. Religious freedom protected
(a) Except as provided for in subsection (b), a governmental authority may not restrict a person‘s free exercise of religion.
Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 42-80.1-3
- Governmental authority: means any department, agency, commission, committee, board, council, bureau or authority or any subdivision of state or municipal government. See Rhode Island General Laws 42-80.1-2
- person: may be construed to extend to and include co-partnerships and bodies corporate and politic. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-6
(b) A governmental authority may restrict a person’s free exercise of religion only if:
(1) The restriction is in the form of a rule of general applicability, and does not intentionally discriminate against religion, or among religions; and
(2) The governmental authority proves that application of the restriction to the person is essential to further a compelling governmental interest, and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
History of Section.
P.L. 1993, ch. 230, § 1.