71 Pa. Stat. § 2402

Current through Pa Acts 2024-53, 2024-56 through 2024-111
Section 2402 - Legislative findings

The General Assembly finds and declares as follows:

(1) Laws and governmental actions which are facially neutral toward religion, as well as laws and governmental actions intended to interfere with religious exercise, may have the effect of substantially burdening the free exercise of religion. However, neither State nor local government should substantially burden the free exercise of religion without compelling justification.
(2) The General Assembly intends that all laws which it has heretofore enacted or will hereafter enact and all ordinances and regulations which have been or will be adopted by political subdivisions or executive agencies shall be construed so as to avoid the imposition of substantial burdens upon the free exercise of religion without compelling justification.

71 P.S. § 2402

2002, Dec. 9, P.L. 1701, No. 214, § 2, imd. effective.