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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2024

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A N   A C T

     RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS ACT

     

     Introduced By: Senators E Morgan, DeLuca, Rogers, Paolino, de la Cruz, Ciccone,
Raptakis, and F. Lombardi

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2024

     Referred To: Senate Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Title 23 of the General Laws entitled "HEALTH AND SAFETY" is hereby

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amended by adding thereto the following chapter:

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CHAPTER 100

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PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS ACT

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     23-100-1. Short title.

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     This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Parents Bill of Rights Act".

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     23-100-2. Legislative findings.

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     The general assembly finds that it is a fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing,

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education, and care of their minor children. The general assembly further finds that important

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information relating to a minor child should not be withheld, either inadvertently or purposefully,

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from their parents, including information relating to the minor child's health, well-being, and

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education, while the minor child is in the custody of the school district. The general assembly

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further finds it is necessary to establish a consistent mechanism for parents to be notified of

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information relating to the health and well-being of their minor children.

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     23-100-3. Infringement of parental rights.

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     (a) The state, any of its political subdivisions, any other governmental entity, or any other

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institution may not infringe on the fundamental rights of a parent to direct the upbringing,

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education, health care, and mental health of their minor child without demonstrating that such

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action is reasonable and necessary to achieve a compelling state interest and that such action is

 

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narrowly tailored and is not otherwise served by a less restrictive means.

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     (b) For purposes of this chapter, the term "parent" means a person who has legal custody

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of a minor child as a natural or adoptive parent or a legal guardian.

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     23-100-4. Parental rights.

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     (a) All parental rights are reserved to the parent of a minor child in this state without

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obstruction or interference from the state, any of its political subdivisions, any other governmental

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entity, or any other institution, including, but not limited to, all of the following:

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     (1) The right to direct the education and care of their minor child.

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     (2) The right to direct the upbringing and the moral and religious training of their minor

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child.

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     (3) The right to apply to enroll their minor child in a public school or, as an alternative to

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public education, a private school, including a religious school, a home education program, or other

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available options, as authorized by law.

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     (4) The right to access and review all school records relating to their minor child.

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     (5) The right to make health care decisions for their minor child, unless otherwise provided

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by law.

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     (6) The right to access and review all medical records of their minor child unless prohibited

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by law, or if the parent is the subject of an investigation of a crime committed against the minor

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child the records may be withheld, if a law enforcement agency or official upon application to a

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court of competent jurisdiction obtains an order that the information is not to be released.

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     (7) The right to consent in writing before a biometric scan of their minor child is made,

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shared, or stored.

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     (8) The right to consent in writing before any record of their minor child's blood or

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deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) is created, stored, or shared, except as required by law or authorized

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pursuant to a court order.

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     (9) The right to consent in writing before the state or any of its political subdivisions makes

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a video or voice recording of their minor child unless such recording is made during or as part of a

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court proceeding or is made as part of a forensic interview in a criminal or department of children,

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youth and families investigation or is to be used solely for the following:

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     (i) A safety demonstration, including the maintenance of order and discipline in the

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common areas of a school or on student transportation vehicles;

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     (ii) A purpose related to a legitimate academic or extracurricular activity;

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     (iii) A purpose related to regular classroom instructions;

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     (iv) Security or surveillance of buildings or grounds; or

 

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     (v) A photo identification card.

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     (10) The right to be notified promptly if an employee of the state, any of its political

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subdivisions, any other governmental entity, or any other institution suspects that a criminal offense

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has been committed against their minor child, unless the incident has first been reported to law

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enforcement or the department of children, youth and families and notifying the parents would

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impede the investigation.

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     (b) This section does not:

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     (1) Authorize a parent of a minor child in this state to engage in conduct that is unlawful

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or to abuse or neglect their minor child in violation of law;

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     (2) Condone, authorize, approve, or apply to a parental action or decision that would end

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life;

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     (3) Prohibit a court of competent jurisdiction, law enforcement officer, or employees of a

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government agency that is responsible for child welfare from acting in their official capacity within

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the reasonable and prudent scope of their authority; or

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     (4) Prohibit a court of competent jurisdiction from issuing an order that is otherwise

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permitted by law.

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     (c) An employee of the state, any of its political subdivisions, or any other governmental

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entity who encourages or coerces, or attempts to encourage or coerce, a minor child to withhold

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information from their parent may be subject to disciplinary action.

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     (d) A parent of a minor child in this state has inalienable rights that are more comprehensive

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than those listed in this section, unless such rights have been legally waived or terminated. This

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chapter does not prescribe all rights to a parent of a minor child in this state. Unless required by

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law, the rights of a parent of a minor child in this state may not be limited or denied. This chapter

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may not be construed to apply to a parental action or decision that would end life.

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     23-100-5. Parental consent for health care services.

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     (a) Except as otherwise provided by law, a health care provider or professional, as defined

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in § 27-19-1, or an individual employed by such health care practitioner may not provide or solicit

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or arrange to provide health care services or prescribe medicinal drugs to a minor child without

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first obtaining written parental consent.

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     (b) Except as otherwise provided by law or a court order, a health care provider may not

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allow a medical procedure to be performed on a minor child in its facility without first obtaining

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written parental consent.

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     (c) This section does not apply to an abortion, which is governed by chapter 4.13 of title

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23.

 

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     (d) This section does not apply to services provided by a clinical laboratory, unless the

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services are delivered through a direct encounter with the minor at the clinical laboratory facility.

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For purposes of this subsection, the term "clinical laboratory" has the same meaning as provided in

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§ 23-16.2-2.

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     23-100-6. Penalties.

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     Any health care provider, professional or other person who violates this section is subject

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to disciplinary action pursuant to chapter 37 of title 5, as applicable, and commits a misdemeanor

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punishable by imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or by a fine of not more than one

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thousand dollars ($1,000) and/or an administrative fine of one thousand dollars ($1,000) for each

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violation, as applicable.

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     SECTION 2. Chapter 16-71 of the General Laws entitled "The Rhode Island Educational

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Records Bill of Rights" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     16-71-7. School district notifications on parental rights.

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     (a) Each district school board shall, in consultation with parents, teachers, and

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administrators, develop and adopt a policy to promote parental involvement in the public school

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system. Such policy shall include:

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     (1) A plan for parental participation in schools to improve parent and teacher cooperation

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in such areas as homework, school attendance, and discipline.

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     (2) A procedure for parents to learn about their minor child's course of study, including the

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source of any supplemental education materials.

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     (3) Procedures for parents to object to curriculum materials to be considered for use

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pursuant to the provisions of chapter 22 of title 16, and other materials used in the classroom. Such

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objections may be based on beliefs regarding morality, sex, and religion or the belief that such

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materials are harmful. For purposes of this chapter, curriculum may include other materials used in

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the classroom, including workbooks and worksheets, handouts, software, applications, and any

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digital media made available to students.

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     (4) Procedures, pursuant to § 16-22-18, for a parent to withdraw their minor child from any

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portion of the school district's comprehensive health education required that relates to sex education

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or instruction in acquired immune deficiency syndrome education or any instruction regarding

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sexuality if the parent provides a written objection to their minor child's participation. Such

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procedures shall provide for a parent to be notified in advance of such course content in order that

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they may withdraw their minor child from those portions of the course.

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     (5) Procedures for a parent to learn about the nature and purpose of clubs and activities

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offered at their minor child's school, including those clubs and activities that are extracurricular or

 

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part of the school curriculum.

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     (6) Procedures for parents to learn about parental rights and responsibilities under the law,

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including all of the following:

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     (i) Pursuant to § 16-22-18 the right to opt their minor child out of any portion of the school

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district's comprehensive health education that relates to sex education instruction in acquired

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immune deficiency syndrome education or any instruction regarding sexuality.

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     (ii) A plan to disseminate information, about school choice options, including open

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enrollment.

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     (iii) In accordance with § 16-38-2, the right of a parent to exempt their minor child from

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immunizations.

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     (iv) The right of a parent to review statewide, standardized assessment results.

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     (v) The right of a parent to enroll their minor child in gifted or special education programs.

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     (vi) The right of a parent to inspect school district instructional materials.

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     (vii) The right of a parent to access information relating to the school district's policies for

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promotion or retention, including high school graduation requirements.

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     (viii) The right of a parent to receive a school report card and be informed of their minor

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child's attendance requirements.

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     (ix) The right of a parent to access information relating to the state public education system,

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state standards, report card requirements, attendance requirements, and instructional materials

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requirements.

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     (x) The right of a parent to participate in parent-teacher associations and organizations that

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are sanctioned by a district school board or the department of education.

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     (xi) The right of a parent to opt out of any district-level data collection relating to their

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minor child not required by law.

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     (b) A district school board may provide the information required in this section

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electronically or post such information on its website.

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     (c) A parent may request, in writing, from the district school superintendent the information

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set forth in and required under this section. Within ten (10) days, the district school superintendent

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shall provide the information to the parent. If the district school superintendent denies a parent's

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request for information or does not respond to the parent's request within ten (10) days, the parent

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may appeal the denial to the district school board. If possible, the district school board shall place

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a parent's appeal on the agenda for its next public meeting. If it is too late for a parent's appeal to

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appear on the next agenda, the appeal shall be included on the agenda for the subsequent meeting.

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     (d) The governing body of a school who violates or allows the violation of this section shall

 

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be liable for a civil penalty, not less than one thousand dollars ($1,000) per instance. This penalty

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shall be assessed and recovered in a civil action brought by the attorney general in any court of

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competent jurisdiction. Any penalty assessed and recovered in an action brought pursuant to this

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subsection shall be paid to the general treasurer and added to the general fund.

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     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

     RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY - PARENTS BILL OF RIGHTS ACT

***

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     This act would provide for a parents' bill of rights preventing the state or any governmental

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entity from infringing on the fundamental rights of parents in the upbringing of their children. The

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act would spell out the rights of parents with respect to the health, education and welfare of their

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minor children. Violations of the act would result in civil, criminal and/or administrative penalties.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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