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SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment relating to an individual's or |
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a religious organization's free exercise of religion. |
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 6, Article I, Texas Constitution, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 6. (a) All men have a natural and indefeasible right |
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to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own |
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consciences. No man shall be compelled to attend, erect or support |
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any place of worship, or to maintain any ministry against his |
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consent. No human authority ought, in any case whatever, to control |
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or interfere with the rights of conscience in matters of religion, |
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and no preference shall ever be given by law to any religious |
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society or mode of worship. |
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(b) The government may not, directly, indirectly, or |
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incidentally, substantially burden an individual's or a religious |
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organization's conduct that is based on a sincerely held religious |
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belief, unless the government is: (i) acting to further a |
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compelling governmental interest, and (ii) using the least |
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restrictive available means to do so. |
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(c) But it shall be the duty of the Legislature to pass such |
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laws as may be necessary to protect equally every religious |
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denomination in the peaceable enjoyment of its own mode of public |
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worship. |
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SECTION 2. This proposed constitutional amendment shall be |
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submitted to the voters at an election to be held November 8, 2011. |
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The ballot shall be printed to provide for voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment relating to an |
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individual's or a religious organization's free exercise of |
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religion." |