House Bill 1516

AN ACT TO ESTABLISH THE "PARENTS' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT"; TO DEFINE TERMINOLOGY USED HEREIN; TO ESTABLISH THAT A PARENT'S LIBERTY TO DIRECT THE UPBRINGING, EDUCATION, HEALTH CARE AND MENTAL HEALTH OF HIS OR HER CHILD IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT; TO PROHIBIT THE STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF FROM SUBSTANTIALLY BURDENING A PARENT'S FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT WITHOUT DEMONSTRATING THAT THE BURDEN IS REQUIRED BY A COMPELLING GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST; TO PROVIDE THAT ALL PARENTAL RIGHTS ARE EXCLUSIVELY RESERVED TO A PARENT OF A CHILD WITHOUT OBSTRUCTION BY OR INTERFERENCE FROM THE STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF; TO PROVIDE THAT ABUSE OR NEGLECT OF A CHILD BY A PARENT OR THE ACTION OR DECISION OF A PARENT THAT WOULD END LIFE ARE NOT AUTHORIZED BY THIS ACT; TO PROHIBIT EMPLOYEES OF THIS STATE AND ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF, EXCEPT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL, FROM ENCOURAGING OR COERCING A CHILD TO WITHHOLD INFORMATION FROM THE CHILD'S PARENT; TO FURTHER PROHIBIT SUCH EMPLOYEES FROM WITHHOLDING INFORMATION THAT IS RELEVANT TO A CHILD'S PHYSICAL, EMOTIONAL OR MENTAL HEALTH FROM A CHILD'S PARENT; TO REQUIRE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT TO DEVELOP AND ADOPT A POLICY TO PROMOTE THE INVOLVEMENT OF PARENTS OF CHILDREN ENROLLED IN THE DISTRICT'S SCHOOLS; TO PRESCRIBE THE MINIMUM REQUIREMENT PROCEDURES TO BE ADDRESSED BY THE POLICY; TO PROVIDE THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF A SCHOOL DISTRICT WITH THE DISCRETION TO ADOPT A POLICY TO PROVIDE TO PARENTS THE INFORMATION IN AN ELECTRONIC FORM; TO REQUIRE PARENTS TO SUBMIT A WRITTEN OR ELECTRONIC REQUEST FOR THE CHILD'S INFORMATION TO THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OR THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT; TO REQUIRE THE SCHOOL PRINCIPAL OR SUPERINTENDENT TO PROVIDE THE REQUESTED INFORMATION TO THE PARENTS WITHIN TEN DAYS OF RECEIVING THE REQUEST, OR SUBMIT TO THE PARENT A WRITTEN EXPLANATION OF THE REASONS FOR THE DENIAL OF THE REQUESTED INFORMATION; TO PRESCRIBE THE PROCESS BY WHICH A PARENT MAY SUBMIT A FORMAL CONSIDERATION OF THE REQUEST OF INFORMATION WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD IF THE REQUESTED INFORMATION IS NOT RECEIVED FIVE DAYS AFTER SUBMITTING THE INITIAL REQUEST; TO ESTABLISH A CAUSE OF ACTION FOR VIOLATION OF THIS ACT; TO PROVIDE THAT THIS ACT SHALL SERVE AS A DEFENSE TO ANY CAUSE OF ACTION THAT IS RAISED AS A RESULT OF A VIOLATION THEREOF; TO PROVIDE THAT THE RULES OF CONSTRUCTION SHALL PROVIDE BROAD PROTECTION OF A PARENT'S FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AS INALIENABLE UNLESS THOSE RIGHTS HAVE BEEN LEGALLY WAIVED OR LEGALLY TERMINATED; TO BRING FORWARD SECTIONS 37-3-49, 37-13-173, 37-15-3, 37-7-301, 37-13-171 AND 43-21-105, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, FOR PURPOSES OF POSSIBLE AMENDMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

In the House of Representatives

• Jansen Owen

  Sponsor

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Jan 20 – Feb 4

1. Jan 20Referred to the House committee on Judiciary A
2. Feb 4Died in committee in the House