HJR 39 -- RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN PUBLIC PLACES

SPONSOR:  Bearden

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Children
and Families by a vote of 7 to 4.

This proposed constitutional amendment guarantees, upon voter
approval, a citizen's First Amendment right to pray and worship
in all public areas including schools as long as the activities
are voluntary and subject to the same rules and regulations that
apply to all other types of speech.

The amendment also reaffirms a citizen's right to choose any
religion or no religion at all by prohibiting both the
establishment of an official state religion and any state
coercion or endorsement of religion through practices as
composing official state prayers.

Public schools receiving state funds are required to display the
text of the First Amendment of the Constitution of the United
States in a conspicuous and legible manner.

FISCAL NOTE:  Estimated Cost on General Revenue Fund of $52,560
in FY 2007, $0 in FY 2008, and $0 in FY 2009.  No impact on Other
State Funds in FY 2007, FY 2008, or FY 2009.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill will assure the
religious freedoms of those who would like to pray in public
arenas, such as schools and state-owned buildings.  Requiring
public schools to display the text of the First Amendment will
help those students that are not aware of their rights to engage
in private and voluntary prayer during school hours.  The bill
will clarify 40 years of confusion since the United States
Supreme Court started to hear prayer in school cases.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Bearden; Missouri
Eagle Forum; Missouri Family Network; Missouri Baptist
Convention, Christian Life Commission; Missouri First; and Nancy
Sander.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Dominic Lackey, Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated November 29, 2006 at 9:46 am