Florida Senate - 2012                                   SJR 1696
       
       
       
       By Senator Altman
       
       
       
       
       24-00674A-12                                          20121696__
    1                       Senate Joint Resolution                     
    2         A joint resolution proposing an amendment to Section 3
    3         of Article I of the State Constitution, to conform the
    4         provision to the portion of the First Amendment to the
    5         United States Constitution relating to religious
    6         freedom.
    7  
    8  Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    9  
   10         That the following amendment to Section 3 of Article I of
   11  the State Constitution is agreed to and shall be submitted to
   12  the electors of this state for approval or rejection at the next
   13  general election or at an earlier special election specifically
   14  authorized by law for that purpose:
   15                              ARTICLE I                            
   16                        DECLARATION OF RIGHTS                      
   17         SECTION 3. Religious freedom.—The legislature There shall
   18  make be no law respecting an the establishment of religion, or
   19  prohibiting or penalizing the free exercise thereof. Religious
   20  freedom shall not justify practices inconsistent with public
   21  morals, peace or safety. No revenue of the state or any
   22  political subdivision or agency thereof shall ever be taken from
   23  the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid of any church,
   24  sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any sectarian
   25  institution.
   26         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the following statement be
   27  placed on the ballot:
   28                      CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT                     
   29                        ARTICLE I, SECTION 3                       
   30         RELIGIOUS FREEDOM.—Proposing an amendment to the State
   31  Constitution providing that no individual or entity may be
   32  denied, on the basis of religious identity or belief,
   33  governmental benefits, funding, or other support, except as
   34  required by the First Amendment to the United States
   35  Constitution, and deleting the prohibition against using
   36  revenues from the public treasury directly or indirectly in aid
   37  of any church, sect, or religious denomination or in aid of any
   38  sectarian institution.