H-4290 _______________________________________________
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 4230
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State of Washington 51st Legislature 1990 Regular Session
By Representatives Haugen, Ballard, D. Sommers, Kirby, Wood and Raiter
Read first time 3/7/90 and referred to Committee on State Government.
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON, IN LEGISLATIVE SESSION ASSEMBLED:
THAT, At the next general election to be held in this state there shall be submitted to the qualified voters of the state for their approval and ratification, or rejection, an amendment to Article I, section 11 of the Constitution of the state of Washington to read as follows:
Article I, section
11. Absolute
freedom of conscience in all matters of religious sentiment, belief and
worship, shall be guaranteed to every individual, and no one shall be molested
or disturbed in person or property on account of religion; but the liberty of
conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of
licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of
the state. No public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to
any religious worship, exercise or instruction, or the support of any religious
establishment: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That this article shall not be so construed
as to forbid the employment by the state, its agencies, political
subdivisions, or municipal corporations, of ((a)) chaplains
for such of ((the state)) their custodial, correctional,
and mental institutions, or hospitals and other health care facilities,
including hospices, as in the discretion of the legislature may seem
justified. No religious qualification shall be required for any public office
or employment, nor shall any person be incompetent as a witness or juror, in
consequence of his opinion on matters of religion, nor be questioned in any
court of justice touching his religious belief to affect the weight of his
testimony.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the secretary of state shall cause notice of the foregoing constitutional amendment to be published at least four times during the four weeks next preceding the election in every legal newspaper in the state.