HJR 42 -- EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT

CO-SPONSORS:  Williams (121), Backer, Gaw, Kreider, Fraser,
Hollingsworth, Riback Wilson (25), Gunn, Harlan, Thompson (72),
Graham (24), Carter, McLuckie, Fitzwater, Britt, Scheve, Ford,
Smith, O'Connor, Crump, Farnen, Hosmer, Campbell, Davis (122),
Skaggs, Dougherty, Murray, Mays (50), Kelly (27), Shelton,
Hilgemann, Ostmann, Kennedy, McKenna, Ward, Boucher, Hagan--
Harrell, Franklin, Ladd Stokan, Gambaro, Clayton, Hickey,
Seigfreid, Lakin, Bray, Days, Davis (63), Leake, Relford, Curls,
Wilson (42), Selby, Schilling, Foley, Van Zandt

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Critical
Issues by a vote of 13 to 8.

This joint resolution ratifies a proposed amendment to the
United States Constitution.  The amendment provides that
equality of rights shall not be denied or abridged on account of
sex.  Congress is granted the power to enforce the amendment
which becomes effective 2 years following its ratification.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the ERA is necessary to include
the rights of women in the United States Constitution.  With
this constitutional protection, discrimination on the basis of
sex would receive the same degree of scrutiny by the courts as
racial discrimination.  In recent years, some legal scholars
have advocated that the time limit on passing the ERA has not
expired.

Testifying for the bill were Representatives Williams (121) and
Fraser; Missouri Commission on Human Rights; Warrensburg
Business and Professional Women; Missouri Business and
Professional Women; National Business and Professional Women;
American Association of University Women; American Civil
Liberties Union of Eastern Missouri; Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority;
League of Women Voters of Missouri; Missouri Women's Network;
University of Missouri-Columbia Chapter of the National
Organization of Women; Central Missouri State University Women
Scholars; Missouri Chapter of the National Organization of
Women; Missouri Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Missouri
Coalition Against Sexual Assault; Church Women United of
Springfield; American Association of University Women; Privacy
Rights Education Project; Missouri AFL-CIO; Missouri National
Education Association; ERA Summit; Gateway Chapter of the Older
Women's League; Capital Women's Political Caucus; Feminist
Majority Leadership Alliance; Chillicothe Women in Support of
HJR 42; Robert Verchick; Brant Defibaugh; E. Marie Hyatt;
Stephen Wilke; Kelly Anthony; Ben Garrett; Barb Perell; Jessica
Elaine Smith; Karen Johnson; Deborah Halter; Kelly Anthony;
Amber Clifford; and Paula Diller.

OPPONENTS:  Those who oppose the bill say that the amendment is
not necessary and may have some unintended, adverse consequences
such as federally funded abortions.

Testifying against the bill were Missouri Eagle Forum; Campaign
Life Missouri; Missouri Right to Life; Missouri Chapter of
Concerned Women for America of Missouri; and Linda Stillings.

Katharine Barondeau, Legislative Analyst

HJR 42 -- Equal Rights Amendment

Co-Sponsors:  Williams (121), Backer, Gaw, Kreider, Fraser,
Hollingsworth, Riback Wilson (25), Gunn, Harlan, Thompson (72),
Graham (24), Carter, McLuckie, Fitzwater, Britt, Scheve, Ford,
Smith, O'Connor, Crump, Farnen, Hosmer, Campbell, Davis (122),
Skaggs, Dougherty, Murray, Mays (50), Kelly (27), Shelton,
Hilgemann, Ostmann, Kennedy, McKenna, Ward, Boucher, Hagan--
Harrell, Franklin, Ladd Stokan, Gambaro, Clayton, Hickey,
Seigfreid, Lakin, Bray, Days, Davis (63), Leake, Relford, Curls,
Wilson (42), Selby, Schilling, Foley, Van Zandt

This joint resolution ratifies a proposed amendment to the
United States Constitution.  The amendment provides that
equality of rights shall not be denied or abridged on account of
sex. Congress is granted the power to enforce the amendment
which becomes effective 2 years following its ratification.