Opinion ID: 2602166
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 6

Heading: Significant Differences in Parallel Provisions of State Constitution

Text: Combining and analyzing Gunwall factors 1 and 2, the Malyon court first examined the language of the state constitutional provision and the significant differences between its text and that of its federal counterpart. Article I, section 11 of the Washington State Constitution provides in relevant part: Absolute freedom of conscience in all matters of religious sentiment, belief and worship, shall be guaranteed to every individual, and no one shall be molested or disturbed in person or property on account of religion; but the liberty of conscience hereby secured shall not be so construed as to excuse acts of licentiousness or justify practices inconsistent with the peace and safety of the state. No public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise or instruction, or the support of any religious establishment.... Const. art. I, § 11. The relevant portion of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution states: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.... We recognized in Malyon that [t]he state provision explicitly prohibits appropriation or application of public money or property for four explicit purposes, religious worship, religious exercise, religious instruction, and support of any religious establishment. Malyon, 131 Wash.2d at 793, 935 P.2d 1272. We concluded, a [p]roper analysis of article I, section 11 must distinguish similar provisions solely applicable to public schools, and concerns unique to public schools, when schools are not at issue. Malyon, 131 Wash.2d at 794, 935 P.2d 1272. Since we are not dealing in this case with public schools under article IX, we must look further to the principles contemplated in article I, section 11. While significant textual differences are apparent, and the language of article I, section 11 considerably more specific, a commonality of principles exists in both the state and federal provisions. This common principle ensures a separation between government (and public funds) and religion and religious worship, exercise, or instruction. Both state and federal provisions ensure this separation by focusing on the statute or law enacted. The specific language of article I, section 11, that [n]o public money or property shall be appropriated for or applied to any religious worship, exercise or instruction, or the support of any religious establishment was analyzed in Malyon. The verb appropriated means [t]o prescribe a particular use for particular moneys; to designate or destine a fund or property for a distinct use .... BLACK'S LAW DICTIONARY 101 (6th ed.1990). Similarly, applied generally means to use or employ for a particular purpose; to appropriate and devote to a particular use, object, demand, or subject matter. Id. at 99. In this text the terms require one to determine whether our government has purposefully transferred, or made available, money or property for the defined objective. Ultimate utilization of the money or property is a necessary but insufficient part of the constitutional test; a religious purpose is the key. Malyon, 131 Wash.2d at 799, 935 P.2d 1272. We stated, the appropriation of money, or application of property, to effectuate any objective other than religious worship, exercise, instruction, or religious establishment is not within the prohibition. Malyon, 131 Wash.2d at 799-800, 935 P.2d 1272. We concluded the proper focus under article I, section 11 is whether the program at issue has a religious purpose. The program at issue in this case does not have a religious purpose. The EOG Program was created by the Legislature as a demonstration project to serve placebound financially needy students by assisting them to obtain a baccalaureate degree at public and private institutions of higher education which have the capacity to accommodate such students within existing educational programs and facilities. RCW 28B.101.010 (1990). Grants may be used by eligible participants to attend any public or private college or university in the state of Washington that is accredited by an accrediting association recognized by rule of the higher education coordinating board and that has an existing unused capacity. Grants shall not be used to attend any branch campus or educational program established under chapter 28B.45 RCW. The participant shall not be eligible for a grant if it will be used for any programs that include religious worship, exercise, or instruction or to pursue a degree in theology. Each participating student may receive up to two thousand five hundred dollars per academic year, not to exceed the student's demonstrated financial need for the course of study. Resident students as defined in RCW 28B.15.012(2)(f) are not eligible for grants under this chapter. RCW 28B.101.040 (2002). The definitions and eligibility criteria are set out in RCW 28B.101.020 (1990): (1) For the purposes of this chapter, placebound means unable to relocate to complete a college program because of family or employment commitments, health concerns, monetary inability, or other similar factors. (2) To be eligible for an educational opportunity grant, applicants must be placebound residents of the state of Washington who are needy students as defined in RCW 28B.10.802(3) and who have completed the associate of arts degree or its equivalent. A placebound resident is one who may be influenced by the receipt of an enhanced student financial aid award to attend an institution that has existing unused capacity rather than attend a branch campus established pursuant to chapter 28B.45 RCW. An eligible placebound applicant is further defined as a person whose residence is located in an area served by a branch campus who, because of family or employment commitments, health concerns, monetary need, or other similar factors, would be unable to complete an upper-division course of study but for receipt of an educational opportunity grant. The focus of the EOG Program is to aid placebound financially needy students. University programs including religious worship, exercise, or instruction or efforts by any placebound financially needy student to pursue a degree in theology are explicitly excluded from the EOG Program. No religious purpose can be found anywhere within the statutory scheme.