House Bill 4189

    Florida House of Representatives - 1998               HJR 4189

        By Representative Starks






  1                      House Joint Resolution

  2         A joint resolution proposing an amendment to

  3         Section 3 of Article I of the State

  4         Constitution relating to religious freedom.

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  6  Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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  8         That the amendment to Section 3 of Article I of the

  9  State Constitution set forth below is agreed to and shall be

10  submitted to the electors of Florida for approval or rejection

11  at the general election to be held in November 1998:

12         SECTION 3.  Religious freedom.--There shall be no law

13  respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting or

14  penalizing the free exercise thereof. The state or any

15  political subdivision or agency thereof may not substantially

16  burden the free exercise of religion, even if the burden

17  results from a rule of general applicability, unless the state

18  demonstrates that application of the burden is in furtherance

19  of a compelling interest and is the least restrictive means of

20  furthering that compelling interest. Religious freedom shall

21  not justify practices inconsistent with public morals, peace

22  or safety.  No revenue of the state or any political

23  subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from the

24  public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church,

25  sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian

26  institution.

27         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that in accordance with the

28  requirements of s. 101.161, Florida Statutes, the title and

29  substance of the amendment proposed herein shall appear on the

30  ballot as follows:

31          PROHIBITING STATE FROM SUBSTANTIALLY BURDENING

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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida House of Representatives - 1998               HJR 4189

    204-177A-98






  1                  THE FREE EXERCISE OF RELIGION

  2         Provides that the state may not substantially burden

  3  the free exercise of religion, even if the burden results from

  4  a rule of general applicability, unless the state demonstrates

  5  that application of the burden is in furtherance of a

  6  compelling interest and is the least-restrictive means of

  7  furthering that compelling interest.

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