SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 3
(By Senators Schoonover, Love, Anderson, Helmick, Boley, Dittmar, Ross, Minear, Plymale, Sharpe, Dugan, Bailey, Kimble and Deem)
(Introduced February 13, 1997; referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary.)

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West

Virginia, amending article twelve thereof by adding thereto a new section, designated section thirteen, relating to authorizing voluntary prayer in public schools.

Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia, two thirds of the members elected to each house agreeing thereto:
That the question of ratification or rejection of an amendment to the Constitution of the State of West Virginia be submitted to the voters of the State at the next general election to be held in the year one thousand nine hundred ninety-eight, which proposed amendment is that article twelve thereof be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated section thirteen, to read as follows:
ARTICLE XII. EDUCATION.
§13. Prayer to be allowed in schools.
No person may prevent the exercise of voluntary prayer in any public school. During a two minute period during each school day, any elementary, middle, junior high or high school may provide for a period of meditation and prayer for any student, teacher or other school official or employee.
Resolved further, That in accordance with the provisions of article eleven, chapter three of the code of West Virginia, one thousand nine hundred thirty-one, as amended, such proposed amendment is hereby numbered "Amendment No. 1" and designated as the "Voluntary School Prayer Amendment" and the purpose of the proposed amendment is summarized as follows: "To authorize voluntary prayer in schools."

NOTE: The purpose of this resolution is to authorize voluntary prayer in schools.

This section is new; therefore, strike-throughs and underscoring have been omitted.