State Can Apply Child Care Licensing To Bible School

In Tennessee Department of Human Services v. Priest Lake Community Baptist Church, (TN Ct. App., June 25, 2007), a Tennessee state appellate court upheld application of the state's child care licensing requirements to a weekday Bible school program operated by a Baptist church. The court found that the church lacked standing to challenge certain of the substantive requirements imposed by the regulations. The court limited the church to challenging whether a general requirement that it obtain a child care license violates its free exercise rights. The court upheld state regulators, finding that the licensing law was a neutral generally applicable regulation and did not target religious conduct for special treatment.