INDIANAPOLIS | The fight over a controversial proposal that supporters claim protects religious freedom, but opponents believe licenses discrimination, continues Monday in the House.
The House Judiciary Committee, which includes state Reps. Bill Fine, R-Munster, and Vernon Smith, D-Gary, is set to review Senate Bill 101 at 8:30 a.m. region time.
The measure, which cleared the Republican-controlled Senate last month on a 40-10 party-line vote, exempts individuals, including businesses, from state laws and local ordinances if a person claims the law violates his or her religious beliefs -- unless the government can show the burden is the least restrictive way to further a legitimate government interest.
Backers of the proposal, which already has been enacted by the federal government and 19 states, including Illinois in 1998, argue it shields believers by requiring government to justify any imposition on an individual's religious beliefs.
Critics of the legislation, which comes on the heels of gay marriage being legalized in the state, say it provides business owners permission to discriminate against homosexuals and others.
House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said he expects the measure -- which he supports -- will proceed through the normal House committee process.
Last year, Bosma yanked House Joint Resolution 3, a proposal to add the state's now-invalidated law banning gay marriage to the Indiana Constitution, from the Judiciary Committee and put it in the Elections Committee when it appeared the constitutional amendment might not advance to the full chamber.
Bosma hinted this year's legislation may be altered by the Judiciary Committee to deny employees the right to sue their employers for claimed religious freedom violations.
That would limit lawsuits under the measure to only government actions affecting religion.
He said that change likely will eliminate opposition to the proposal by many business groups, including the Indiana Chamber of Commerce.