FAITH Act

This bill would make it a federal crime to knowingly charge or try to charge a person any fee, fine, surcharge, penalty, or other financial obligation based on their membership or participation in a religion, denomination, or religious organization, or their refusal to join or participate. If the amount is $1,000 or less, the penalty is a fine, up to 1 year in prison, or both; for larger amounts, it is a fine, up to 3 years in prison, or both. Knowingly denying goods, services, access, or opportunities to someone for not paying such a fee would also be a crime, punishable by a fine, up to 1 year in prison, or both. The bill states that religious organizations and educational institutions could still request or receive voluntary contributions from their members, and it adds this offense to the list of crimes covered by federal racketeering (RICO) law. It would take effect 30 days after becoming law.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Keith Self Republican sponsor
• 1 cosponsors