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A JOINT RESOLUTION
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proposing a constitutional amendment relating to a person's free |
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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 state or a county, municipality, or other political |
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subdivision of the state, including a department, agency, or |
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instrumentality of the state or of a political subdivision of the |
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state, may not burden in any way a person's free exercise of |
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religion unless the burden is: |
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(1) necessary to further a compelling governmental |
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interest; and |
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(2) the least restrictive means of furthering that |
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interest. |
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(c) A homeowners' association may not burden in any way a |
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person's free exercise of religion unless the burden is: |
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(1) necessary to further a compelling |
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quasi-governmental interest of the homeowners' association; and |
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(2) the least restrictive means of furthering that |
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interest. |
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(d) 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 3, 2015. |
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The ballot shall be printed to permit voting for or against the |
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proposition: "The constitutional amendment relating to a person's |
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free exercise of religion." |