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.