Overview

This bill proposes to amend the Charities Act 2011, creating a presumption that religious institutions automatically meet the "public benefit" requirement for charitable status. Currently, religious institutions must actively demonstrate public benefit; this bill would remove that requirement.

Description

The core change introduced by the Charitable Status for Religious Institutions Bill is the addition of a new subsection (2A) to section 4 of the Charities Act 2011. This subsection establishes a presumption that the advancement of religion is inherently for the public benefit. This means that religious organizations would no longer need to individually prove their public benefit, simplifying the process of obtaining charitable status. The bill also makes a consequential amendment to section 4(4) of the Act to reflect the new subsection. The bill applies only to England and Wales and comes into force upon Royal Assent.

Government Spending

The bill is not expected to significantly increase or decrease government spending. The primary impact is administrative, simplifying the process for registering religious institutions as charities. No specific figures are provided in the bill text.

Groups Affected

The bill primarily affects religious institutions in England and Wales. It would significantly benefit them by easing the process of gaining and maintaining charitable status. Conversely, the Charity Commission which currently assesses the public benefit of charitable institutions would experience a reduction in workload. Other groups, such as those who donate to religious charities might indirectly benefit from a more efficient system for registering such organizations.

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