Page:2021 North Dakota Session Laws.pdf/374

Corrections, Parole, and Probation c. Deny clergy access to an offender in the custody of the facility for the purpose of providing religious services unless the facility demonstrates the denial is necessary to further a compelling penological interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling penological interest.

3. An offender in the custody of a facility claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of subsection 2 may assert, after exhausting appropriate administrative remedies, that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and, if the offender is the prevailing party, may obtain appropriate relief, including costs and reasonable attorney's fees.

38 '''SECTION 3. AMENDMENT.''' Subsection 12 of section 23-01-05 of the North Dakota Century Code is amended and reenacted as follows:

12. Issue any orders relating to disease control measures deemed necessary to prevent the spread of communicable disease. Disease control measures may include special immunization activities and decontamination measures. Written orders issued under this section shall have the same effect as a physician's standing medical order. The state health officer may apply to the district court in a judicial district where a communicable disease is present for an injunction canceling public events or closing places of business. On application of the state health officer showing the necessity of such cancellation, the court may issue an ex parte preliminary injunction, pending a full hearing.

a. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an order issued pursuant to this subsection may not:

(1) Substantially burden a person's exercise of religion unless the order is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest;

(2) Treat religious conduct more restrictively than any secular conduct of reasonably comparable risk, unless the government demonstrates through clear and convincing evidence that a particular religious activity poses an extraordinary health risk; or

(3) Treat religious conduct more restrictively than comparable secular conduct because of alleged economic need or benefit.

b. A person claiming to be aggrieved by a violation of subdivision a may assert that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial proceeding and obtain appropriate relief, including costs and reasonable attorney's fees.

SECTION 4. A new section to chapter 25-01 of the North Dakota Century Code is created and enacted as follows:

Religious exercise of patient or resident under the care of the department of human services.

1. The department of human services may not:

38 Section 23-01-05 was also amended by section 1 of House Bill No. 1118, chapter 191, section 107 of House Bill No. 1247, chapter 352, section 1 of House Bill No. 1418, chapter 190, and section 1 of Senate Bill No. 2181, chapter 192.