Bill to Strip Boy Scouts of Tax Break Stalls

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A bill to strip the Boy Scouts of America of its tax-exempt status because of the organization's refusal to allow gay troop leaders has stalled in the Legislature.

SB323 by Democratic Sen. Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens would deny state tax breaks to nonprofit youth groups that discriminate on the basis of gender identity, race, sexual orientation, nationality, religion or religious affiliation.

Because the legislation is a tax measure, it requires a two-thirds vote in both houses to pass.

The Senate approved it in May, but it was placed on the inactive file in the Assembly on Thursday. Lara could bring it back if he gets the needed votes by Friday's legislative deadline.

Conservative legal groups had threatened to sue if the bill became law.