2023 -- S 0957

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LC001680

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

     Introduced By: Senators E Morgan, and DeLuca

     Date Introduced: May 01, 2023

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is

hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     16-21-36.1. Parental notification.

     (a) As used in this section, "school" means all public supported schools for students in

grades kindergarten through grade twelve (K-12) to include, but not limited to, charter schools.

     (b) A school principal shall notify the parents of an unemancipated minor student if the

student:

     (1) Discloses to an employee or staff member of the school that the student has conflicted

feelings about or is having difficulty handling or coping with the student's gender identity or gender

expression; or

     (2) Changes, expresses or indicates a desire to change, or makes a request to change the

student's name, attire or pronoun, title, or word to identify the student in a manner that is

inconsistent with the student's biological sex at birth.

     (c) Not later than five (5) business days after the date on which an employee or staff

member receives a disclosure or information described in subsection (b) of this section, the

employee or staff member shall report the disclosure or information to a school principal,

administrator, or supervisor in a manner prescribed by the school's principal.

     (d) Not later than five (5) business days after the date on which a school principal,

administrator, or supervisor receives a report described in subsection (c) of this section, the school

principal shall provide notification to a parent as required by subsection (b).

     (e) Nothing in this chapter may be construed to require a school psychologist, a school

nurse, a school social worker, or a school counselor to violate any provision of federal or state law.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

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     This act would require a public school, including a charter school, to notify the parent of

an unemancipated minor, if the student: (1) Makes a certain disclosure concerning the student's

gender identity or gender expression to an employee or staff member of the school; or (2) Changes,

expresses a desire to change, or makes a request to change the student's name, attire, or pronoun,

title, or word to identify the student, in a manner that is inconsistent with the student's biological

sex at birth. The act would also require an employee or staff member of a school to report the

disclosure or information.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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