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AN ACT relating to children and declaring an emergency. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 405 IS CREATED TO 3
READ AS FOLLOWS: 4
(1) As used in this section: 5
(a) "Child" means any person who has not reached the age of eighteen (18) 6
years that has not been emancipated under law; and 7
(b) "Parent" means a biological parent of a child, an adoptive parent of a 8
child, or an individual who has been granted legal authority over the 9
welfare of a child under this state's laws, but shall not include any 10
governmental entity, organization, or any person whose authority over the 11
child has been terminated by court order. 12
(2) The liberty of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, healthcare, and 13
mental healthcare of that parent's child is a fundamental right. 14
(3) The state, any political subdivision of the state, or any other governmental entity 15
shall not substantially burden the fundamental right of a parent to direct the 16
upbringing, education, healthcare, and mental healthcare of that parent's child 17
without demonstrating that the substantial burden is required by a compelling 18
governmental interest of the highest order as applied to the parent and the child 19
and is the least restrictive means of furthering that compelling interest. 20
(4) All parental rights are exclusively reserved to a parent of a child without 21
obstruction by or interference from the state, any political subdivision of the state, 22
or any other governmental entity, including, without limitation, the following 23
rights and responsibilities: 24
(a) To direct the upbringing of the child; 25
(b) To direct the moral and religious upbringing of the child; 26
(c) To direct the education of the child, including but not limited to the right to 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 306
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choose public, private, religious, or home schools, and the following rights 1
as applied toward the public schools of the state: 2
1. To make reasonable choices for the child's education as may be 3
permitted and set forth in other statutes within public schools; and 4
2. To access and review all school records relating to the child as set 5
forth in the Kentucky Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, KRS 6
160.700 to 160.730, unless prohibited by court order; 7
(d) To consent in writing to all physical and mental healthcare decisions for the 8
child through specific or general authorizations; 9
(e) To access and view all medical records of the child; 10
(f) To consent in writing before biometric data of the child is collected, shared, 11
or stored, except for general identification cards or documents; 12
(g) To consent in writing before any record of the child's blood or 13
deoxyribonucleic acid is created, stored, or shared, unless authorized 14
pursuant to a court order or collected as evidence to identify a person; 15
(h) To consent in writing before any government entity makes a video or voice 16
recording of the child, unless the video or voice recording is made during or 17
as a part of: 18
1. A public event; 19
2. A court proceeding; 20
3. A forensic interview in a criminal or Cabinet for Health and Family 21
Services investigation; 22
4. The security or surveillance of buildings, grounds, or other property; 23
or 24
5. A photo identification card; and 25
(i) To be notified promptly if an employee of this state, any political subdivision 26
of this state, any other governmental entity, or any other institution suspects 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 306
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that abuse, neglect, or any criminal offense, excluding de minimis offenses, 1
has been committed against the child by someone other than a parent, 2
including the right to be notified if the child has been a victim of a felony as 3
set forth in KRS 158.156, unless the incident has first been reported to law 4
enforcement and notification of the parent would impede a law enforcement 5
or Cabinet for Health and Family Services investigation. 6
(5) Nothing in this section shall authorize or allow a parent to abuse or neglect a 7
child as defined in KRS Chapter 508 or 600.020. This section does not apply to a 8
parental action or decision that would end the life of the child or to KRS Chapter 9
402 relating to child marriage. This section shall not prohibit a court from 10
issuing an order that is otherwise permitted by law. 11
(6) No employee of this state, any political subdivision of this state, any other 12
governmental entity, or any public or private educational institution, except for 13
law enforcement personnel who are acting in an official capacity, shall 14
encourage or coerce a child to withhold information that is vital to a parent's 15
ability to exercise parental rights from the child's parents, nor shall any such 16
employee withhold from the parent information vital to maintaining the physical, 17
emotional, or mental health of the child. This shall include information necessary 18
for the parent to engage at the earliest stages of problem behavior. 19
(7) Unless those rights have been legally waived or legally terminated, parents have 20
inalienable rights that are more comprehensive than those listed in Sections 1 to 21
4 of this Act. The protections of the fundamental right of parents to direct the 22
upbringing, education, healthcare, and mental healthcare of their child afforded 23
by Sections 1 to 4 of this Act are in addition to the protections provided under 24
federal law, state law, and the state and federal constitutions. 25
SECTION 2. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 405 IS CREATED TO 26
READ AS FOLLOWS: 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 306
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(1) The board of education of a school district, or the board of directors of a public 1
charter school, in consultation with parents, teachers, administrators, and the 2
Kentucky Department of Education, shall develop and adopt policies to promote 3
the involvement of parents of children enrolled in the schools within the school 4
district, including: 5
(a) A plan for parent participation in the schools which is designed to improve 6
parent and teacher cooperation in such areas as homework, attendance, 7
and discipline; 8
(b) Procedures by which a parent may learn about the courses of study for that 9
parent's child and review all available educational and learning materials 10
utilized, including any supplemental educational materials and any teacher 11
training materials or videos; 12
(c) A policy to respect parental rights by ensuring children in grade five (5) and 13
below do not receive any instruction through curriculum or programs on 14
human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases or that any child, 15
regardless of grade level, enrolled in the district does not receive any 16
instruction or presentation that has a goal or purpose of studying, 17
exploring, or informing students about gender identity, gender expression, 18
sexual orientation, or sexual relationships; 19
(d) A policy to notify a parent in advance and obtain the parent's written 20
consent before the parent's child in grade six (6) or above receives any 21
instruction through curriculum or programs on human sexuality or 22
sexually transmitted diseases as described in KRS 158.1415; 23
(e) Procedures by which a parent who objects to any specific instruction or 24
presentation may withdraw that parent's child from the instruction or 25
presentation. Objection to a specific instruction or presentation shall be on 26
the basis that it conflicts with the beliefs or practices of a parent regarding 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 306
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morality or religion; 1
(f) Procedures to allow a parent to learn about the nature and purpose of clubs 2
and extracurricular activities that have been approved by the school or 3
district; 4
(g) Procedures to give prior notification to parents of the identity of non-5
employee speakers, instructors, or demonstrators and the purpose of the 6
non-employee's participation in the child's class or program; 7
(h) Procedures to inform the parent if the parent's child wishes to use a name 8
or nickname other than their legal name or that the child wishes to use a 9
pronoun that does not align with the child's biological sex. A policy shall 10
require written consent from the parent before using a name or nickname 11
other than the child's legal name or pronoun that does not align with the 12
child's biological sex. The written consent may include general 13
authorization to use any names, nicknames, or pronouns the child requests. 14
However, even if a parent provides written consent, no person shall be 15
compelled to use pronouns that do not align with the child's biological sex; 16
(i) Procedures to notify parents of each school's policies and practices 17
regarding student access to and use of locker rooms, changing rooms, 18
restrooms, and overnight lodging on school-sponsored trips. This notice 19
shall be provided at the start of each school year and anytime a school's 20
policy or practice changes; and 21
(j) Procedures to inform parents about the parental rights and responsibilities 22
outlined in Sections 1 to 4 of this Act, the policies required under this 23
section, and the Kentucky Family Education and Privacy Rights Act, KRS 24
160.700 to 160.730. This may be provided in an electronic form. 25
(2) The Kentucky Department of Education may develop model policies and 26
procedures and consult with local boards of education and boards of directors of 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 306
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a public charter schools to assist compliance with Sections 1 to 4 and 5 of this 1
Act. However, no district or public charter school shall be required to adopt those 2
policies, procedures, or advice. By July 1 of each year, the Kentucky Department 3
of Education shall submit a report to the Interim Joint Committee on Education 4
summarizing the consultation provided and detailing the model policies and 5
procedures provided during the past year. 6
SECTION 3. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 405 IS CREATED TO 7
READ AS FOLLOWS: 8
(1) Except as otherwise provided by subsection (3) of this section and Section 6 of 9
this Act, by court order, or except for de minimis care, a person, corporation, 10
association, organization, state-supported institution, or individual employed by 11
any of these entities, shall obtain the consent of a parent of a child before taking 12
any of the following actions: 13
(a) Procuring, soliciting to perform, arranging for the performance of, 14
providing a referral for, or performing surgical procedures upon a child; 15
(b) Procuring, soliciting to perform, arranging for the performance of, 16
providing a referral for, or performing a physical examination upon a 17
child; 18
(c) Procuring, soliciting to perform, arranging for the performance of, 19
providing a referral for, or performing a mental health evaluation in a 20
clinical or nonclinical setting or mental health treatment on a child; or 21
(d) Prescribing or dispensing any medication or prescription drugs to a child. 22
(2) If parental consent required under subsection (1) of this section is given remotely, 23
the person or entity obtaining parental consent shall verify the identity of the 24
parent. 25
(3) The provisions of this section shall not apply when: 26
(a) It has been determined in good faith by a physician or mental health 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 306
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professional that an emergency exists and either of the following conditions 1
is true: 2
1. It is necessary to perform an activity listed in subsection (1) of this 3
section in order to prevent death or imminent irreparable physical 4
injury to the child; or 5
2. A parent of the child cannot be located or contacted after a reasonably 6
diligent effort; or 7
(b) A physician or mental health professional, in good faith and with a 8
reasonable belief supported by fact, determines that the minor is a victim of 9
physical, sexual, or substance abuse by the parent, and that obtaining 10
parental consent would place the minor at risk of further abuse from a 11
parent. 12
SECTION 4. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 405 IS CREATED TO 13
READ AS FOLLOWS: 14
(1) A parent may bring suit for any violation of Sections 1 to 4 of this Act and may 15
raise these sections as a defense in any judicial or administrative proceeding 16
without regard to whether the proceeding is brought by or in the name of the 17
state, any political subdivision of the state, any other governmental entity, any 18
private person, or any other party. 19
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an action under this section may be 20
commenced, and relief may be granted, without regard to whether the person 21
commencing the action has sought or exhausted available administrative 22
remedies. 23
(3) Any person who successfully asserts a claim or defense under this section may 24
recover declaratory relief, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, punitive 25
damages, reasonable attorney's fees and costs, and any other appropriate relief. 26
(4) Sovereign, governmental, and qualified immunities to suit and from liability are 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 306
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waived and abolished to the extent necessary to allow for equitable relief under 1
this section. 2
(5) Sections 1 to 4 of this Act shall be construed in favor of a broad protection of the 3
fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, healthcare, and 4
mental healthcare of their child. 5
(6) Nothing in Sections 1 to 4 of this Act shall be construed to authorize any 6
government to burden the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, 7
education, healthcare, and mental healthcare of their child. 8
(7) If a child has no affirmative right to access a particular medical or mental health 9
procedure or service, then nothing in Sections 1 to 4 or 5 of this Act shall be 10
construed to grant that child's parent an affirmative right of access to that 11
procedure or service on that child's behalf. 12
(8) State statutory law adopted after the date of the enactment of this section shall be 13
subject to Sections 1 to 4 of this Act unless that law explicitly excludes that 14
application by reference to this section. 15
(9) No parent prohibited by court order signed by a judge or justice of a court of 16
competent jurisdiction within the Commonwealth of Kentucky shall have a cause 17
of action under this section. 18
Section 5. KRS 160.715 is amended to read as follows: 19
(1) Parents of students or eligible students attending public institutions or who have 20
been in attendance shall have the right to inspect and review student education 21
records within a reasonable time of making a request to inspect. 22
(2) For school districts or public charter schools: 23
(a) The local board of education or board of directors shall adopt policies for 24
honoring requests for inspection and review of all education records that 25
include identifying and authorizing at least one (1) official to be a 26
designated recipient for requests; 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 306
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(b) A parent shall submit a written or electronic request to inspect or review 1
records to the designated official, and within five (5) business days of 2
receiving the request, the official shall: 3
1. Deliver the requested information to the parent; 4
2. Provide the parent with the opportunity to inspect the record; 5
3. Provide a detailed explanation of the cause for further delay and the 6
place, time, and earliest date on which the record will be available; or 7
4. Submit to the parent a written explanation of the reasons for the 8
denial of the request; and 9
(c) If the request is denied or the parent does not receive the requested record 10
or the ability to inspect the record within fifteen (15) business days after 11
submitting the request, the parent may submit a written request to inspect or 12
review the record to the local board or board of directors which shall 13
formally consider the request at the next scheduled public meeting of the 14
board in which the request can be properly placed on the agenda. 15
(3) All other educational institutions shall establish procedures for honoring requests 16
for inspection within a reasonable time. 17
(4) Reasonable fees for copying materials and documents may be charged. 18
Section 6. KRS 214.185 is amended to read as follows: 19
(1) [Any physician, upon consultation by a minor as a patient, with the consent of such 20
minor may make a diagnostic examination for venereal disease, pregnancy, or 21
substance use disorder and may advise, prescribe for, and treat such minor 22
regarding venereal disease, substance use disorder, contraception, pregnancy, or 23
childbirth, all without the consent of or notification to the parent, parents, or 24
guardian of such minor patient, or to any other person having custody of such minor 25
patient. Treatment under this section does not include]Except as provided in this 26
section, no medical or mental health services shall be given to a minor of any age 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 306
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without the consent of the parent or legal guardian, including inducing of an 1
abortion, prescribing any medication or performing any surgical procedure 2
related to gender transition, or performance of a sterilization operation.[ In any 3
such case, the physician shall incur no civil or criminal liability by reason of having 4
made such diagnostic examination or rendered such treatment, but such immunity 5
shall not apply to any negligent acts or omissions.] 6
(2)[ Any physician may provide outpatient mental health counseling to any child age 7
sixteen (16) or older upon request of such child without the consent of a parent, 8
parents, or guardian of such child. 9
(3)] Any qualified mental health professional, as defined by KRS 202A.011, may 10
provide outpatient mental health counseling to any child who is age sixteen (16) or 11
older and is an unaccompanied youth, as defined by 42 U.S.C. sec. 11434a(6), upon 12
request of such child without the consent of a parent, parents, or guardian of such 13
child and after a reasonable attempt to verify the minor's age and status as an 14
unaccompanied youth. 15
(3)[(4)] Notwithstanding any other provision of the law, and without limiting cases in 16
which consent may be otherwise obtained or is not required, any emancipated 17
minor or any minor who has contracted a lawful marriage or borne a child may give 18
consent to the furnishing of hospital, medical, dental, or surgical care to his or her 19
child or himself or herself and such consent shall not be subject to disaffirmance 20
because of minority. The consent of the parent or parents of such married or 21
emancipated minor shall not be necessary in order to authorize such care. For the 22
purpose of this section only, a subsequent judgment of annulment of marriage or 23
judgment of divorce shall not deprive the minor of his or her adult status once 24
obtained. The provider of care may look only to the minor or spouse for payment 25
for services under this section unless other persons specifically agree to assume the 26
cost. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 306
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(4)[(5)] Medical, dental, and other health services may be rendered to minors of any 1
age without the consent of a parent or legal guardian when, in the professional's 2
judgment: 3
(a) An emergency exists and either of the following conditions is true: 4
1. It is necessary to perform the health service in order to prevent death 5
or imminent, irreparable physical injury to the child; or 6
2. A parent or legal guardian of the child cannot be located or contacted 7
after a reasonably diligent effort; or 8
(b) Based in good faith with a reasonable belief supported by fact that the 9
minor is a victim of physical, sexual, or substance abuse by a parent or 10
guardian and that obtaining a parent's or guardian's consent would place 11
the minor at risk of further abuse from a parent or guardian[, the risk to the 12
minor's life or health is of such a nature that treatment should be given 13
without delay and the requirement of consent would result in delay or denial 14
of treatment. 15
(6) The consent of a minor who represents that he or she may give effective consent for 16
the purpose of receiving medical, dental, or other health services but who may not 17
in fact do so, shall be deemed effective without the consent of the minor's parent or 18
legal guardian, if the person rendering the service relied in good faith upon the 19
representations of the minor]. 20
(5)[(7)] The consent of a minor age sixteen (16) or older who represents that he or she 21
may give effective consent for the purpose of receiving outpatient mental health 22
counseling from a qualified mental health professional, but who may not in fact do 23
so, shall be deemed effective without the consent of the minor's parent or legal 24
guardian if the person rendering the service relied in good faith upon the 25
representations of the minor after a reasonable attempt to obtain parental consent or 26
to verify the minor's age and status as an unaccompanied youth. 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 306
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(6)[(8)] The professional may inform the parent or legal guardian of the minor patient 1
of any treatment given or needed where, in the judgment of the professional, 2
informing the parent or guardian would benefit the health of the minor patient. 3
(7)[(9)] Except as otherwise provided in this section, parents, the Cabinet for Health 4
and Family Services, or any other custodian or guardian of a minor shall not be 5
financially responsible for services rendered under this section unless they are 6
essential for the preservation of the health of the minor. 7
Section 7. Due to the high importance of parents' ability to exercise the rights 8
outlined in this Act to provide the upbringing of their children in the Commonwealth, an 9
emergency is declared to exist, and this Act shall take effect upon its passage and 10
approval by the Governor or upon its otherwise becoming law. 11