Hearing on Religious Exemption Bill Set for Today

A bill to exempt those with "certain religious beliefs" from the definitions of employer and employee will be heard in a House committee today. Senate Bill 298, by Ryan Osmundson, R-Buffalo, passed by a 48-2 vote in the Senate last month. Under the bill, religious organizations and members who have been "conscientiously opposed to accepting the benefits of any public or private insurance" for 10 or more years would be exempt from workers' compensation coverage requirements.  To qualify for an exemption from the definition of "employer," the or...