2008 Initiative Petitions
Approved for Circulation in Missouri

Constitutional Amendment to Add Article III, Section 38(e),
Relating to Limiting Stem Cell Research, 2008-014

THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT

NOTICE: You are advised that the proposed constitutional amendment may change, repeal, or modify by implication, or may be construed by some persons to change, repeal or modify by implication, Article III, Sections 36 and 38(d), Article IV, Sections 23 and 28, and Article X, Sections 1, 2, and 3, of the Missouri Constitution.

Be it resolved by the people of the State of Missouri that the Constitution be amended:

One new section is adopted by adding one new section to be known as Section 38(e) of Article III, to read as follows:

Section 38(e)  1. It shall be unlawful to clone or attempt to clone a human being as that term is defined in subsection 2 of this section.  Researchers may conduct stem cell research to discover cures for disease and develop stem cell therapies and cures, provided that the research complies with the limitations of this section and the limitations of Section 38(d).  The prohibitions of this section shall be in addition to the prohibitions of Section 38(d).

2.  For all purposes within this article, “Clone or attempt to clone a human being” means create or attempt to create a human embryo at any stage, which shall include the one-cell stage onward, by any means other than fertilization of a human egg by a human sperm.

3.  No taxpayer dollars shall be expended: (1) to clone or attempt to clone a human being; or (2) to research or experiment using a human embryo, or any part of a human embryo, derived from cloning or attempting to clone a human being.