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Georgia senators consider bill to protect same-sex marriage objectors

State Sen. Greg Kirk, R-Americus, shows signatures of fellow lawmakers on a bill he plans to introduce that provides religious exemptions in the wake of last year's U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, in Atlanta. Kirk says religious adoption agencies, schools and other nonprofits should be able to refuse service to same-sex couples. But Kirk says government employees still would have to carry out duties of their job, including clerks issuing marriage licenses. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
State Sen. Greg Kirk, R-Americus, shows signatures of fellow lawmakers on a bill he plans to introduce that provides religious exemptions in the wake of last year's U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, in Atlanta. Kirk says religious adoption agencies, schools and other nonprofits should be able to refuse service to same-sex couples. But Kirk says government employees still would have to carry out duties of their job, including clerks issuing marriage licenses. (AP Photo/David Goldman) State Sen. Greg Kirk, R-Americus, shows signatures of fellow lawmakers on a bill he plans to introduce that provides religious exemptions in the wake of last year's U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing gay marriage Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, in Atlanta. Kirk says religious adoption agencies, schools and other nonprofits should be able to refuse service to same-sex couples. But Kirk says government employees still would have to carry out duties of their job, including clerks issuing marriage licenses. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

By Associated Press 1 min read

ATLANTA (AP) – A powerful Senate committee discussed but took no action on a contentious bill allowing religious adoption agencies, schools, government workers and others to refuse same-sex couples without penalty.

The Senate Rules committee held a 15-minute hearing Monday on the proposal from state Sen. Greg Kirk, a Republican from Americus. The committee decides which bills receive a full Senate vote.

Kirk says the bill would not allow public employees to avoid job tasks, including clerks issuing marriage licenses.

Senate Minority Leader Steve Henson questioned the bill’s impact on the state’s economy and warned it could be considered discriminatory.

Cathy Woolard, a lobbyist for the gay rights group Georgia Equality, says the bill could be unconstitutional because it only protects one viewpoint that marriage is between a man and a woman.