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Assembly Bill A8847

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Enacts the Protecting Religious Assembly in States of Emergency (PRAISE) Act

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Assembly Committee

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2023-A8847 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Assembly Governmental Operations
Law Section:
Civil Rights Law
Laws Affected:
Add §79-r, Civ Rts L
Versions Introduced in 2025-2026 Legislative Session:
A1848

2023-A8847 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the Protecting Religious Assembly in States of Emergency (PRAISE) Act; prohibits any governmental entity from discriminating against and closing a place of worship during an emergency.

2023-A8847 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf 

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8847
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 18, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. ANGELINO -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Governmental Operations
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the civil rights law, in relation to prohibiting any
   governmental entity from discriminating against and closing a place of
   worship during an emergency
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Protecting
 Religious Assembly in States of Emergency (PRAISE) Act".
   §  2.  The civil rights law is amended by adding a new section 79-r to
 read as follows:
   § 79-R. PROTECTING RELIGIOUS  ASSEMBLY  IN  STATES  OF  EMERGENCY.  1.
 PROTECTION  FOR PLACES OF WORSHIP. ANY ORDER, RULE, REGULATION, OR OTHER
 DIRECTIVE, ISSUED BY ANY GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY PURSUANT TO AN EMERGENCY OR
 HEALTH OR SAFETY DETERMINATION, THAT REQUIRES CLOSURE OR  LIMITATION  OF
 ANY  BUSINESS  OR  OTHER FACILITY OTHERWISE OPEN TO PUBLIC USE OR PATRO-
 NAGE, BUT WHICH EXEMPTS IN WHOLE OR IN PART ANY PARTICULAR ENTITY OR SET
 OF ENTITIES, SHALL EXEMPT TO THE SAME EXTENT ANY PLACE OF WORSHIP  ENTI-
 TLED  TO  THE RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION FOUND IN SECTION 501(C)(3) OF TITLE 26
 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE, TO THE SAME EXTENT AS THE EXEMPT ENTITY. THIS
 SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO AFFORD TO RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS AND PLAC-
 ES OF WORSHIP THE SAME DEGREE OF FREEDOM TO MEET AS IS AFFORDED  TO  THE
 MOST FAVORED ENTITY OR SET OF ENTITIES.
   2.  ENFORCEMENT.  ANY  PERSON  OR  ENTITY  BURDENED  OR  IMPAIRED BY A
 VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION MAY BRING A CIVIL ACTION  FOR  RELIEF  AGAINST
 SUCH BURDEN OR IMPAIRMENT IN ANY COURT OF COMPETENT JURISDICTION. RELIEF
 MAY  INCLUDE INJUNCTIVE ORDERS, COMPENSATORY DAMAGES, NOMINAL DAMAGES, A
 DECLARATION OF A VIOLATION, AND, WHERE MALICE OR RECKLESSNESS IS  DEMON-
 STRATED, PUNITIVE DAMAGES.
   § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13854-01-3

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