Bill Text: IA HJR3 | 2011-2012 | 84th General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa to specify that the right to life is the paramount and most fundamental right of every person, and that personhood applies to all human beings from the beginning of their biological development.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 35-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-31 - END OF 2011 ACTIONS [HJR3 Detail]

Download: Iowa-2011-HJR3-Introduced.html
House Joint Resolution 3 - Introduced HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 3 BY ALONS , CHAMBERS , SODERBERG , PEARSON , DE BOEF , SWEENEY , SHAW , WINDSCHITL , KOESTER , HAGENOW , SCHULTZ , HAGER , HUSEMAN , BRANDENBURG , HANUSA , WATTS , RAYHONS , ROGERS , BAUDLER , LOFGREN , FRY , RASMUSSEN , L. MILLER , SANDS , PETTENGILL , DRAKE , LUKAN , GARRETT , WORTHAN , BYRNES , JORGENSEN , DOLECHECK , VAN ENGELENHOVEN , MASSIE , and J. TAYLOR HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION A Joint Resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution 1 of the State of Iowa to specify that the right to life is 2 the paramount and most fundamental right of every person, 3 and that personhood applies to all human beings from the 4 beginning of their biological development. 5 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 6 TLSB 1485YH (7) 84 pf/rj
H.J.R. 3 Section 1. The following amendment to the Constitution of 1 the State of Iowa is proposed: 2 Section 1 of Article I of the Constitution of the State of 3 Iowa, as amended by amendment number 1 of the Amendments of 4 1998, is amended to read as follows: 5 Rights of persons. SECTION 1. 6 1. All men and women are, by nature, free and equal, and 7 have certain inalienable rights —— among which are those of 8 enjoying and defending life and liberty, acquiring, possessing 9 and protecting property, and pursuing and obtaining safety and 10 happiness. 11 2. The right to life is the paramount and most fundamental 12 right of every person. 13 3. With respect to the fundamental and inalienable rights 14 of all persons guaranteed in this constitution, the word 15 “person” applies to all human beings, irrespective of age, 16 health, function, physical or mental dependency, or method of 17 reproduction, whether in vivo or in vitro, from the beginning 18 of their biological development, including the single-cell 19 human embryo. 20 Sec. 2. REFERRAL AND PUBLICATION. The foregoing proposed 21 amendment to the Constitution of the State of Iowa is referred 22 to the general assembly to be chosen at the next general 23 election for members of the general assembly, and the secretary 24 of state is directed to cause the proposed amendment to be 25 published for three consecutive months previous to the date of 26 that election as provided by law. 27 EXPLANATION 28 This joint resolution proposes an amendment to the 29 Constitution of the State of Iowa specifying that the 30 right to life is the paramount and most fundamental right 31 of every person, and that with respect to the fundamental 32 and inalienable rights of all persons guaranteed in the 33 constitution, the word “person” applies to all human beings, 34 irrespective of age, health, function, physical or mental 35 -1- LSB 1485YH (7) 84 pf/rj 1/ 2
H.J.R. 3 dependency, or method of reproduction, whether in vivo or in 1 vitro, from the beginning of their biological development, 2 including the single-cell human embryo. 3 The resolution, if adopted, would be referred to the next 4 general assembly for adoption, before being submitted to the 5 electorate for ratification. 6 -2- LSB 1485YH (7) 84 pf/rj 2/ 2
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