2015 Regular Session ENROLLED SENATE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 69 BY SENATORS LONG, ALARIO, AMEDEE, BROWN, BUFFINGTON, CHABERT, DONAHUE, ERDEY, JOHNS, LAFLEUR, MARTINY, MORRISH, NEVERS, PEACOCK, PERRY, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH, TARVER, THOMPSON AND WARD AND REPRESENTATIVES ARMES, ARNOLD, BARROW, BROADWATER, BROWN, HENRY BURNS, TIM BURNS, CARMODY, CARTER, CONNICK, COX, EDWARDS, FANNIN, GAROFALO, GUILLORY, HALL, HAVARD, HAZEL, HENRY, HOFFMANN, HOLLIS, JACKSON, MIKE JOHNSON, JONES, TERRY LANDRY, LEOPOLD, MIGUEZ, MILLER, POPE, PRICE, REYNOLDS, RICHARD, SEABAUGH, SHADOIN, SIMON, ST. GERMAIN, STOKES, WHITNEY AND WILLMOTT A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION To express support of Louisiana students to assemble for religious expression and the freedom to express their religious beliefs in public elementary and secondary schools and public postsecondary education institutions. WHEREAS, the United States of America was founded on the precepts of freedom, liberty, diversity, and the right of the people to acknowledge their personal faith according to the dictates of individual conscience; and WHEREAS, the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States adopted in 1791, specifically provides that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of a religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof"; and WHEREAS, the people's right to assemble and to recognize their religious beliefs and traditions on public property, including schools, through Christmas programs and any other traditional celebrations should not be infringed upon; and WHEREAS, the Legislature of Louisiana supports the concept of voluntary prayer in public schools and the right to assemble for religious expression, and traditions including Christmas recitals, programs, and all other forms of religious observance in public elementary and secondary schools and public postsecondary education institutions. THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby express its support of Louisiana students to assemble for religious expression and to express their religious beliefs in all public elementary and secondary schools and public postsecondary education institutions in the state of Louisiana. Page 1 of 2 SCR NO. 69 ENROLLED BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the Department of Education and the governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school and public postsecondary education management board. PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Page 2 of 2