“Religious freedom includes fairness. It’s unfair to you for your taxpayer dollars to be used to support my religious organization and school, and vice versa. Florida’s Constitution has successfully protected our religious freedoms for 130 years. Let’s keep what’s working. Join me and faith leaders all over Florida in stopping these efforts that attack fairness and reduce our religious freedoms.”
The Florida Constitution Revision Commission, which will propose amendments to the Florida Constitution, has recently convened and is considering two proposals—Proposal 4 and Proposal 45—that could threaten the religious liberty of all Floridians. Faith Leaders are speaking out against these proposals. Join us by signing our letter.
Our Letter:
As leaders in our faith communities in the State of Florida, we believe taxpayer dollars should never be used to support private religious organizations or schools—not even our own. Therefore, we urge the members of the Constitution Revision Commission to reject Proposals 4 and 45, which would allow public funds to benefit certain faith communities over others.
Together, these two proposals would strip away fundamental and longstanding religious freedom protections and threaten the integrity and autonomy of our houses of worship and religious schools:
Proposal 4 would fully repeal the No-Aid Provision of Article I, §3 of the Florida Constitution, which ensures that taxpayer dollars do not fund religion.
Proposal 45 would effectively repeal the Uniform Public Education Provision of Article IX, §1, which ensures that public dollars fund public schools that serve all our students and are not funneled into private and religious schools.
For 130 years, these constitutional protections have allowed houses of worship and religious schools to flourish by ensuring they remain truly independent from the government. These provisions also have protected the religious freedom of Floridians by guaranteeing that the State will not force any taxpayer to support someone else's religious education, institutions, or beliefs.
Under the current Constitution, the state can and does partner with religiously affiliated organizations to provide publicly-funded social services while simultaneously providing important safeguards that ensure taxpayer dollars are not used to fund religious programs, education, or discrimination. Passage of Proposals 4 and 45 could lead to the government funding religious education, as well as religious indoctrination, proselytization, and discrimination in publicly funded services. That is likely why 55% of Floridians rejected a similar proposal in 2012.
Our Constitution’s current No-Aid and Uniform Public Education Provisions are the foundation for the freedom of religion and belief for all Floridians—faith leaders and nonbelievers alike. Thus, we urge you to reject Proposals 4 and 45.
Florida's No-Aid Provision: A Safeguard For Religious Liberty.
Generations of Floridians have cast their votes to uphold the No-Aid Provision. It safeguards the religious freedom of all Floridians by guaranteeing that the government does not spend taxpayer dollars to aid religious institutions, education, or activities. The No-Aid Provision puts all religions on equal footing.
55% of Floridians
Voted To Reject The Repeal of the No-Aid Provision in 2012.
A majority voted to keep the provision in place during a 1968 vote.
130 Years
Since Floridians First Ratified The No-Aid Provision
The rule passed in 1885 with the approval of 60% of Florida voters.
38 States
Have Similar Provisions
Many of which were adopted before Florida added the clause to its own constitution.
Find Out More
What is the Florida No-Aid Provision?
The No-Aid Provision grants Floridians important religious freedom protections. Since 1885, it has ensured that religion and government remain separate and that the government does not spend taxpayer dollars to aid religious institutions, education, or activities.
This provision puts all faiths on equal footing, protecting the religious freedom rights of all Floridians, regardless of religious belief. Florida’s No-Aid Provision, which is similar to provisions in 38 other state constitutions, provides Floridians even more protections than those provided under the U.S. Constitution. It empowers Floridians to make their own decisions about whether to support religion, and if so, which religions they would like to support. It also protects the integrity of Florida’s vibrant faith communities.
The History of The No-Aid Provision:
What is Proposal 4?
Proposal 4 would repeal the Florida No-Aid Provision, which protects religious freedom by ensuring that the government does not spend taxpayer dollars to aid religious entities and religious activities. Removing the No-Aid Provision could lead to a broad expansion of private school voucher programs in our state. Vouchers divert critical funding away from Florida public schools and direct it to unregulated schools operated by religious organizations that are allowed to discriminate and indoctrinate faith.
But Proposal 4 does a lot more. For example, Proposal 4 could strip away at the valuable safeguards that currently apply when the government partners with faith-based organizations to perform social services. These safeguards include the nondiscrimination protections that prohibit state-funded organizations from discriminating against employees based on religion or discriminating against the Floridians they serve.
Commissioner Roberto Martinez filed Proposal 4 on August 25, 2017. The Declaration of Rights Committee approved it in November by a vote of 5 - 1, and the Education Committee approved it in January by a vote of 8 - 0. It awaits a vote by the full Commission.
What is the Florida Uniform Public Education Provision?
The Florida Uniform Public Education Provision means that public dollars can only be used for public schools and not for private and religious schools. The law specifically says the State of Florida must make “adequate provision” for a “uniform, efficient, safe, secure, and high quality system of free public schools that allows students to obtain a high quality education…” In short, the provision protects our public schools and prevents the state from adopting a statewide private school voucher program that funds private religious schools.
The History of The Uniform Public Education Provision:
What is Proposal 45?
Proposal 45 would effectively repeal the Florida Uniform Public Education Provision to allow taxpayer dollars to fund private and religious educational programs. This proposal is designed to allow a sweeping expansion of private school voucher programs in our state. Voucher programs divert critical funding away from Florida public schools and direct it primarily to private religious schools that are allowed to discriminate against and proselytize to their students. Taxing Floridians to fund the religious education of others violates core principles of religious freedom.
Commissioner Erika Donalds filed Proposal 45 on October 30, 2017. The Education Committee approved it in January by a vote of 5 - 3. It awaits a vote by the full Commission.
Why do faith leaders oppose Proposals 4 and 45?
In Florida, the No-Aid Provision has helped religion thrive and remain independent from the State. It ensures taxpayer money will not be used to support religion and religious institutions. This provision protects the integrity and autonomy of houses of worship and also protects taxpayers from being forced to fund houses of worship and other religious institutions. Proposal 4 would end the longstanding protections afforded by the No-Aid Provision.
The Uniform Public Education Provision ensures that taxpayer dollars don’t fund private schools, including private religious schools. This protects the religious liberty of taxpayers and ensures that religious schools stay autonomous from the state. Proposal 45 would effectively repeal this provision and end these constitutional protections.
What is the Constitution Revision Commission?
Every 20 years, the Constitution Revision Commission convenes to review the Florida Constitution and propose constitutional amendments for the voters to consider. Unfortunately, the Commission, which is meeting over the next few months, is considering two proposals—Proposals 4 and 45—that would undermine religious liberty and our public schools.
If approved by the Commission, these proposals undermining religious liberty and our public schools will appear on the November 2018 General Election ballot. If approved by 60% of the voters, they will take effect and become part of our Florida Constitution. Now is the time to inform the Commissioner to reject Proposal 4 and Proposal 45, and keep these provisions off our ballot.
Now is the time to inform the Commission why the current constitutional provisions protect religious freedom and urge it to keep Proposal 4 and Proposal 45 off the ballot.
Read the CRC’s guide about itself here.
What can I do to protect the current Florida Constitution?
If you are a faith leader, you should sign our letter. But there are other things you can do as well. You can also submit a comment or attend a public hearing.
Upcoming Events
FEBRUARY 6 - MARCH 13, 2018 — The Constitution Revision Commission to hold public hearings throughout the State. Florida residents may attend these hearings and testify about the proposals being considered. Find the full schedule of hearings here.
MAY 10, 2018 — The deadline for the Constitution Revision Commission to submit its proposed amendments to the Secretary of State to be placed on the ballot.
TBD — The Constitution Revision Commission votes to determine which proposals to place on the November 6, 2018, ballot.
November 6, 2018 — Florida voters will consider all constitutional amendments proposed by the Commission. All proposed amendments need the approval of 60% of voters to pass.
