HCS/HJR 55 - Upon voter approval, this constitutional amendment reaffirms a citizen's right to free expression of religion, including the right to pray and worship in all private and public areas, including public schools and government property, as long as such prayer does not disturb the peace or disrupt any public meeting or assembly, and as long as such prayers abide within the same parameters placed upon any other free speech under similar circumstances. The amendment also reaffirms a citizen's right to choose any religion, or no religion, by prohibiting both the establishment or endorsement of an official state religion and any state coercion to participate in prayer or religious activities.
The amendment provides that the general assembly, and other governing bodies of political subdivisions, may have ministers and clergymen offer prayers or invocations at meetings or sessions of the General Assembly or other governing bodies.
The amendment also requires that any public school receiving state appropriations shall display, in a conspicuous and legible manner, the text of the Bill of Rights of the Constitution of the United States.
This amendment is similar to HJR 19 (2007).
ALEXA PEARSON