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1Introduced by Council President Bowman:

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4 ORDINANCE 2019-329
5 AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO THE COUNCIL RULES;
6 AMENDING COUNCIL RULE 1.106 (CHAPLAIN), PART 1
7 (OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES), CHAPTER 1
8 (ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNCIL), COUNCIL RULES,
9 TO PROVIDE THAT THE INVOCATION BE FREE OF
10 POLITICAL OR SECTARIAN COMMENTARY OR PERSONAL
11 STATEMENTS ON POLICY; REQUIRING EACH COUNCIL
12 PRESIDENT TO ANNUALLY, OR MORE FREQUENTLY AS
13 NECESSARY, REVIEW AND REVISE THE COUNCIL
14 PRESIDENT’S EXECUTIVE POLICY ON INVOCATIONS AT
15 COUNCIL MEETINGS AND PUBLISH ANY CHANGES TO
16 THE FULL COUNCIL; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
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18 WHEREAS, the Council President has issued an updated
19Invocation Policy, dated April 29, 2019, regarding invocations
20given at City Council meetings; and
21 WHEREAS, an amendment to the Council Rules is requested so
22that the Council Rules include the same provisions as the policy as
23to limitations on time and religious or political proselytization
24consistent with Marsh v. Chambers, 463 U.S. 783 (1983), Lynch v.
25Donnelly, 465 U.S. 668 (1984), and Town of Greece, N.Y. v.
26Galloway, 134 S. Ct. 1811 (2014); and
27 WHEREAS, the Council would like to ensure that the Council
28President annually review the Invocation Policy and publish any
29changes to the full Council; now therefore
30 BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Jacksonville:
31 Section 1. Amending Rule 1.106 (Chaplain), Chapter 1

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1(Organization of the Council), Council Rules. Rule 1.106
2(Chaplain), Part 1 (Officers and Employees), Chapter 1
3(Organization of the Council), Council Rules, is hereby amended to
4read as follows:
5 CHAPTER 1. ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNCIL
6 * * *
7 PART 1. OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
8 * * *
9 RULE 1.106 CHAPLAIN
10 The President may appoint one Council Member to be Chaplain of
11the Council, who shall arrange to open each meeting of the Council
12with a prayer/invocation. The President or Chaplain may invite or
13designate others to provide appropriate ceremonies. Any invitation
14extended by a Council Member shall specify that the opportunity to
15offer the invocation must not be exploited to convert others to a
16particular faith, to advance any particular faith, or to disparage
17any faith or belief. The invocation shall be free from personal
18political views or partisan politics, from sectarian controversies,
19and from any intimations pertaining to federal, state or local
20policy. The length of the invocation shall not exceed two minutes.
21It shall be incumbent on the Chaplain or Council Member inviting
22the guest chaplain to advise him or her of these guidelines in
23advance of the scheduled invocation.
24 Section 2. The City Council requests that the Council
25President annually, or more frequently as necessary, review and
26revise the Council President’s Executive Policy on Council
27Invocations during Council meetings and publish any changes to the
28full council. A copy of the Council President’s Executive Policy on
29Council Invocations, dated May 1, 2019, is attached herewith as

30Exhibit 1 and incorporated herein by reference.

31 Section 3. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall become
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1effective upon signature by the Mayor or upon becoming effective
2without the Mayor’s signature.
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4Form Approved:
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6 /s/ Paige H. Johnston_
7Office of General Counsel
8Legislation Prepared By: Paige H. Johnston
9/conversion/tmp/scratch/420823799.doc
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