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HR 4237 106th Congress House

Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2000

Official title: To amend title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to establish provisions with respect to religious accommodation in employment, and for other purposes.

Introduced: June 22, 2000 Introduced by: Nadler, Jerrold Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues Discrimination in employmentFlexible work hoursHours of laborLabor and Employment
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Leave of absenceOvertimeReligionReligion in the workplaceReligious libertySeniority in employmentShift systems
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This bill died when the 106th Congress ended
It never became law before the 106th Congress (1999–2000) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
May 23, 2000
Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.
Apr 11, 2000
Introduced in House
Apr 11, 2000
Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.
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 Latest action May 23, 2000

Referred to the Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service
Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2000 - Amends the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to modify the definition of "religion" to include all aspects of religious observance, practice, and belief unless, after initiating and engaging in an affirmative and bona fide effort, an employer demonstrates that it is unable to reasonably accommodate a religious observance or practice without undue hardship (action requiring significant difficulty or expense) on the conduct of the employer's business.

Prohibits deeming an accommodation by the employer reasonable if the accommodation does not remove the conflict between employment requirements and the religious observance or practice. Excludes, in certain circumstances, a defense that the accommodation would be in violation of a seniority system. Prohibits requiring payment of premium wages for work performed during hours to which premium wages would ordinarily be applicable if work is performed during those hours only to accommodate religious requirements of an employee.

 Related & companion bills 1
  • S 1668 Identical bill Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 1999
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
 Cosponsors 2
All 2 Democratic 1
D
Schakowsky, Janice D.
Illinois · Jun 22, 2000
FROST, MARTIN
· Apr 11, 2000
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4237: Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2000. 106th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-4237/
MLA
"H.R. 4237: Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2000." 106th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-4237/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4237, 106th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-4237/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4237: Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2000](https://openamerica.io/bill/106-HR-4237/)
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