A199 Enacts the "Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act."

Author/Sponsor: Assemblyman Gusciora, Assemblywoman Oliver, Assemblywoman Jasey, Assemblyman McKeon, Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle, Assemblyman O'Donnell, Assemblyman Wisniewski, and Assemblyman Eustace; co-sponsored by Assemblyman Diegan, Assemblywoman Lampitt, Assemblymen Singleton, Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Spencer
Date Introduced: 16 January 2014

Description:

• This bill, titled the "Marriage Equality and Religious Exemption Act," would authorize same-sex marriage in the State. The bill defines "marriage" as the legally recognized union of two consenting persons in a committed relationship.
• It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this bill to end the pernicious practice of discrimination in civil marriage in New Jersey.
• It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this bill to leave decisions about religious marriage to religions, and to uphold the free exercise of religion guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and by Article I, paragraph 4 of the New Jersey Constitution. Therefore, this bill includes numerous, detailed, religious exemptions.
• 16 January 2014, introduced and referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee