Florida Senate - 2010                                   SJR 2550
       
       
       
       By Senator Altman
       
       
       
       
       24-01226A-10                                          20102550__
    1                       Senate Joint Resolution                     
    2         A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 3
    3         of Article I of the State Constitution to provide that
    4         an individual may not be barred from participating in
    5         any public program because of choosing to use public
    6         benefits at a religious provider and to delete a
    7         prohibition against using public revenues in aid of
    8         any church, sect, or religious denomination or any
    9         sectarian institution.
   10  
   11  Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         That the following amendment to Section 3 of Article I of
   14  the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to
   15  the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
   16  general election or at an earlier special election specifically
   17  authorized by law for that purpose:
   18                              ARTICLE I                            
   19                        DECLARATION OF RIGHTS                      
   20         SECTION 3. Religious freedom.—There shall be no law
   21  respecting the establishment of religion or prohibiting or
   22  penalizing the free exercise thereof. Religious freedom shall
   23  not justify practices inconsistent with public morals, peace or
   24  safety. An individual may not be barred from participating in
   25  any public program because that individual has freely chosen to
   26  use his or her program benefits at a religious provider. No
   27  revenue of the state or any political subdivision or agency
   28  thereof shall ever be taken from the public treasury directly or
   29  indirectly in aid of any church, sect, or religious denomination
   30  or in aid of any sectarian institution.
   31         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
   32  placed on the ballot:
   33                      CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT                     
   34                        ARTICLE I, SECTION 3                       
   35         RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.—Proposing an amendment to the State
   36  Constitution to provide that an individual may not be barred
   37  from participating in any public program because that individual
   38  has chosen to use his or her program benefits at a religious
   39  provider, and to delete the prohibition against using revenues
   40  from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any
   41  church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any
   42  sectarian institution.