Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. The general court hereby finds that there is a significant public interest and an urgent necessity to restate its intention to protect individuals from discrimination in the workplace based on their sincerely held religious beliefs without regard to whether such beliefs are recognized by an established religious institution, and immediately to restore the right of individuals to be free from discrimination in the workplace based on their sincerely held religious beliefs.

SECTION 2. The first paragraph of subsection 1A of section 4 of chapter 151B of the General Laws, as appearing in the 1994 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following sentence:- As used in this subsection, the words "creed or religion" mean any sincerely held religious beliefs, without regard to whether such beliefs are approved, espoused, prescribed or required by an established church or other religious institution or organization.

SECTION 3. The provisions of section two of this act shall apply to all claims arising not earlier than three years before the effective date of this act which have not yet been filed, and to all other claims pending before the commission against discrimination or a court on the effective date of this act, including claims upon which final judgment or judgment after rescript has not entered or as to which a period to file an appeal, certiorari petition, petition for rehearing or similar motion has not expired on said effective date.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.