FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 16

95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1285L.02C                                                                                                                                                 D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk


 

JOINT RESOLUTION

Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri, an amendment to article I of the Constitution of Missouri, and adopting one new section relating to protection of parental rights.




Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein:


            That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2010, or at a special election to be called by the governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for adoption or rejection, the following amendment to article I of the Constitution of the state of Missouri:

            Section A. Article I, Constitution of Missouri, is amended by adding one new section, to be known as section 34, to read as follows:

            Section 34. That parents and legal guardians have a natural and fundamental right to direct the care, education, and upbringing of their children, and that no government action shall burden, abridge, or hinder this natural, fundamental right unless it is in furtherance of a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling governmental interest.

            Section B. Pursuant to chapter 116, RSMo, and other applicable constitutional provisions and laws of this state allowing the general assembly to adopt a ballot for the submission of a joint resolution to the voters of this state, the official ballot title of the amendment proposed in section A of this joint resolution shall be as follows:

            "Shall the Missouri Constitution be amended to guarantee the natural and fundamental rights of parents and legal guardians to direct the care, education, and upbringing of their minor children and to restrict all government actions infringing upon these rights unless the governmental action is the least restrictive means for furthering a compelling governmental interest?".