(a) The state government shall license or certify any person that would otherwise be licensed or certified, respectively, for any purposes under state law but for a determination against the person wholly or partially on the basis that the person believes, maintains policies and procedures, or acts in accordance with a sincerely held religious belief, including a belief about biological sex or marriage unless it is demonstrated that refusal of the license or certification of the person in this particular instance is:(1) Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and(2) The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
(1) Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and
(2) The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
(b) The state government shall not revoke, decline to renew, or decline to grant a college or graduate degree, license, or certification to a person based upon the inability of the person to assist or provide professional services to a client or potential client in pursuit of goals, outcomes, or behaviors that conflict with a sincerely held religious belief held by the person unless it is demonstrated that the revocation, declination to renew or grant a college or graduate degree, license, or certification of that person in this particular instance is:(1) Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and(2) The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
(1) Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and
(2) The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
(c) As a condition of obtaining or maintaining a college or graduate degree, license, or certification to engage in certain occupations or professions, the state government shall not require a person to be a member of any occupational organization that requires its members to assist or provide professional services to a client or potential client in pursuit of goals, outcomes, or behaviors that conflict with a sincerely held religious belief held by the person unless it is demonstrated that the requirement that the person be a member of the occupational organization in this particular instance is:(1) Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and(2) The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
(1) Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and
(2) The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
(d) A public educational institution within the state shall not require a license-seeking student to assist or provide services to a client or potential client in pursuit of goals, outcomes, or behaviors that conflict with the license-seeking student's sincerely held religious belief unless it is demonstrated that the requirement that the person assist or provide services in this particular instance is:(1) Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and(2) The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
(1) Essential to further a compelling governmental interest; and
(2) The least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.
(e) This section does not limit any other rights or protections afforded to a person or a license-seeking student under the Arkansas Constitution, the United States Constitution, state law, or state regulatory authority.