HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 108
(By Delegates Henderson, Webb and Evans, By Request)
[Introduced February 12, 1998; referred to the
Committee on Constitutional Revision.]
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 one minute period during each school
day or prior to a school sponsored extra-curricular activity, 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.