The proposed constitutional amendment would remove the present constitutional prohibition against the use of public funds to aid or maintain private primary or secondary schools.

It would permit the Commonwealth, cities and towns to make public funds available to pupils attending private primary and secondary schools in the form of either aid, materials or services subject, however, to three specific limitations. First, the private school could not be one that discriminates on the basis of race or color in its admission requirements. Second, the grant of aid must be consistent with the First Amendment to the United States Constitution which guarantees the free exercise of religion and prohibits the establishment of religion. Third, individual pupils would have to request the aid, materials or services. In addition to these three specific limitations, the amendment would authorize the legislature to enact other laws imposing conditions or restrictions on the grant of public aid, materials or services.

The proposal would also change the state Constitution to allow public money to be spent to aid infirmaries, hospitals, charitable or religious undertakings if they are either publicly owned or under the control of public officials. The state Constitution now prohibits such spending unless these institutions are both publicly owned and under the control of public officials.