Calif. Bill on Scouts' Tax Exemption on Hold

A California bill that would take away the Boy Scouts of America's state tax exemption because of the organization's antigay policies has been placed on hold.

State senator Ricardo Lara, the bill's sponsor, decided to place it on inactive status Thursday because he did not think there were sufficient votes in the Assembly to pass it, the Los Angeles Times reports. It had already been approved by the Senate.

Earlier this year, the BSA's National Council decided to allow openly gay youths to participate, but it kept a ban on gay adult leaders, so Lara had proceeded with his legislation, which would also apply to other nonprofit groups that discriminate.

The legislature adjourned for the year Thursday, but it will come back in January, and Lara can choose to reactivate his bill then. He issued a statement saying the proposal "is alive and well," adding, "As this is the first year to a two-year legislative session, we will be taking the next few months to work closely with all parties involved to address and refine this legislation. As session reconvenes in January, the passage of this bill and fighting against the discrimination of California's LGBT community continues to be of paramount importance."