Sectional Analysis for HJR 5

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the State of Alaska relating to freedom of conscience.

Section 1 amends Article 1 of the state constitution by adding a new section that reads: “Section 25. Freedom of Conscience. An individual may not be denied freedom of conscience and may not be compelled to act in a manner that violates the individual’s conscientious objections to the act.”

Section 2 directs that the proposed amendment be placed before the voters in the next general election in conformity with that section of the constitution that governs how the constitution may be amended. Article XIII, sec. 1 requires that the proposed amendment pass the legislature by a 2/3 vote of each house and be approved by more than half the voters in the election. When passed, the amendment takes effect 30 days after certification of the election by the Lt. Governor.