Second Regular Session
Sixty-first General Assembly
LLS NO. R980940.01 JAG
STATE OF COLORADO
BY REPRESENTATIVE Pankey
STATE, VETERANS & MILITARY
AFFAIRS
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 98-1045
WHEREAS, The Founding Fathers of our great nation
offered prayers at the convention at which they created our United
States constitution; and
WHEREAS, Our currency and many of our postage stamps
bear witness to our long history of belief in a higher power,
and many of our national and Colorado leaders have acknowledged
their personal trust in a Supreme Being; and
WHEREAS, The United States Congress has acknowledged
the vital role of spirituality in American life by setting aside
a special room near the rotunda of the United States Capitol where
members of Congress can pray and meditate; and
WHEREAS, Both Congress and the Colorado General Assembly
open all of their sessions with prayer; and
WHEREAS, The preamble to the Colorado constitution
recognizes the value of spirituality to Coloradans by stating
that the state constitution is ordained and established with "profound
reverence for the Supreme Ruler of the Universe"; and
WHEREAS, The great tradition of moral conviction
and strength gained through spiritual fulfillment echoes resoundingly
throughout our history and makes it fitting that the General Assembly
should have, in the State Capitol, a nondenominational chapel
where its members may seek spiritual comfort and strength through
prayer, meditation, and reflection; and
WHEREAS, It is the intent of the General Assembly
that the construction of a nondenominational chapel in the State
Capitol shall be funded entirely through private contributions,
and that no state funds shall be allocated for the construction
of a chapel in the State Capitol; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives
of the Sixtyfirst General Assembly of the State of Colorado,
the Senate concurring herein:
(1) That a state capitol building chapel
committee shall be formed to determine the feasibility of setting
aside space for and constructing a nondenominational chapel in
the State Capitol to be used primarily by members of the General
Assembly for prayer, meditation, and quiet reflection. The committee
shall consist of nine members, who shall serve without compensation
or reimbursement of expenses and shall be appointed no later than
July 1, 1998, as follows:
(a) Three members of the committee, no
more than two of whom shall be from the same political party,
to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives
from among the members and former members of the House of Representatives;
(b) Three members of the committee, no
more than two of whom shall be from the same political party,
to be appointed by the President of the Senate from among the
members and former members of the Senate;
(c) Three members of the committee, all
of whom shall be of different religious faiths, to be appointed
by the Governor.
(2) That the committee shall hold its
first meeting no later than September 1, 1998, and shall provide
a written recommendation regarding the feasibility of constructing
a nondenominational chapel in the State Capitol to the state capitol
building advisory committee created in section 2482108,
Colorado Revised Statutes, no later than January 30, 1999. If
the committee determines that it is feasible to construct a chapel,
it shall continue to meet as often as necessary but no less frequently
than once every three months until a chapel is constructed or
the committee determines that the construction of a chapel is
no longer feasible. In determining whether the construction of
a nondenominational chapel in the State Capitol is feasible, the
committee shall consider, but need not be limited to, the following:
(a) The extent to which there is available
space to construct a chapel in the State Capitol;
(b) The total costs related to constructing
and furnishing a chapel; and
(c) The constitutional implications of
constructing a chapel on state property.
(3) That, in determining whether the construction
of a nondenominational chapel in the State Capitol is feasible,
the committee may consult with appropriate local, state, and federal
agencies and interested members of the public and may hold public
hearings as it deems necessary.
(4) That it shall be the duty of the committee
to make every effort to solicit sufficient funds to construct
a nondenominational chapel in the State Capitol, and the committee
shall be authorized to accept gifts, grants, or donations of any
kind from any private source to be used for the construction of
such a chapel if such construction is deemed feasible.
(5) That it is the intent of the General Assembly that all such gifts, grants, or donations be transmitted to the state treasurer to be credited to a special account within the public buildings trust fund.