The FFRF Action Fund is excited to announce a newly introduced Michigan bill that will require courts to offer secular recovery options rather than pushing traditional religious 12-step programs. This is a fresh bill that needs strong support out of the gate, so please take a moment to contact your representatives in Lansing and urge them to support HB 4690.
HB 4690 will ensure that individuals mandated by a Michigan court to attend recovery support programs are provided with secular options. While secular options are already available, all too often individuals are unaware of their existence and are forced to participate in religiously motivated 12-step programs. A large portion of treatment program admissions are due to criminal justice cases, and no one should be denied an effective treatment program because they are nonreligious. Courts should support evidence-based treatment and should offer individuals multiple paths to recovery so that each person can find the program that will work for them.
A similar bill passed the New York Legislature last year but was vetoed by the governor in part because she did not appreciate the severity of this problem. Don’t let that happen in Michigan! Make sure lawmakers know that this bill has strong public support by contacting your representatives today and watching for future action alerts on this crucial bill.
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(Note: You must live in this state to take part in this action alert.)
