By: Paxton S.J.R. No. 49
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
proposing a constitutional amendment relating to a person's freedom
of religion.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 6, Article I, Texas Constitution, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 6. (a) All men have a natural and indefeasible right
to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own
consciences. No man shall be compelled to attend, erect or support
any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his
consent. No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control
or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion,
and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious
society or mode of worship.
(b) Government may not burden a person's or religious
organization's Freedom of Religion. The right to act or refuse to
act in a manner motivated by a sincerely held religious belief may
not be burdened unless the government proves it has a compelling
governmental interest in infringing the specific act or refusal to
act and has used the least restrictive means to further that
interest. A burden includes indirect burdens such as withholding
benefits, assessing penalties, or an exclusion from programs or
access to facilities.
(c) But it shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass such
laws as may be necessary to protect equally every religious
denomination in the peacable enjoyment of its own mode of public
worship.
SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be
submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 5, 2013.
The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the
proposition: " The constitutional amendment relating to a person's
freedom of religion.