Florida Senate - 2009                                    SJR 314
       
       
       
       By Senator Sobel
       
       
       
       
       31-00371-09                                            2009314__
    1                       Senate Joint Resolution                     
    2         A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 2
    3         of Article I of the State Constitution, relating to
    4         basic rights.
    5         
    6  Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    7         
    8         That the following amendment to Section 2 of Article I of
    9  the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to
   10  the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
   11  general election or at an earlier special election specifically
   12  authorized by law for that purpose:
   13                              ARTICLE I                            
   14                        DECLARATION OF RIGHTS                      
   15         SECTION 2. Basic rights.—All natural persons, female and
   16  male alike, are equal before the law and have inalienable
   17  rights, among which are the right to enjoy and defend life and
   18  liberty, to pursue happiness, to be rewarded for industry, and
   19  to acquire, possess and protect property; except that the
   20  ownership, inheritance, disposition and possession of real
   21  property by aliens ineligible for citizenship may be regulated
   22  or prohibited by law. No person shall be deprived of any right
   23  because of race, religion, national origin, or physical
   24  disability.
   25         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
   26  placed on the ballot:
   27                      CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT                     
   28                        ARTICLE I, SECTION 2                       
   29         DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.—This amendment to the State
   30  Constitution eliminates authority granted to the Legislature by
   31  a constitutional amendment that at the time of its adoption in
   32  1926 allowed the Legislature to regulate or eliminate the real
   33  property rights of individuals based on race or national origin.
   34  As a result of this amendment, the Florida Constitution will
   35  state that all natural persons are equal before the law and have
   36  an inalienable right to acquire, possess, and protect property,
   37  without exception.