The following letter was sent to the Chair of the Senate Committee on Local Government on April 27, 2001:

April 27, 2001

Tom Torlakson, Chair,
Senate Local Government Committee
State Capitol, Sacramento

Re: SB 142 (Haynes) Support

Dear Senator Torlakson:

The Friends Committee on Legislation supports Senate Bill 142, as a means of assuring that local regulations do not unnecessarily burden free exercise of religion, especially where small congregations are making use of private residences. We consider this measure a useful supplement to the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, enacted by Congress last year.

Safeguards for the free exercise of religion date back to the Rhode Island and Pennsylvania colonies. Today, nearly all of the world's religions have followers in California. A law that directs local planning officials to provide reasonable leeway to religious groups that meet in private homes can be an essential avenue to individual freedom, especially if a person belongs to a congregation that is small or that lacks political muscle in the community

For these reasons, we urge you to support SB 142.

Yours very truly,

STEVE BIRDLEBOUGH
Legislative Advocate

cc: Ray Haynes, Member of the Senate