Maryland 2022 Regular Session

Maryland House Bill HB618 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
4	4	[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
5	5	hb0618
6	6
7	7	HOUSE BILL 618
8	8	D4, F5, J1 2lr1862
9	9
10	10	By: Delegates Cox, Arikan, Parrott, Reilly, and Szeliga
11	11	Introduced and read first time: January 31, 2022
12	12	Assigned to: Ways and Means and Judiciary
13	13
14	14	A BILL ENTITLED
15	15
16	16	AN ACT concerning 1
17	17
18	18	Maryland Parental Rights Act 2
19	19
20	20	FOR the purpose of requiring that the State Board of Education and county boards of 3
21	21	education allow a certain amount of time for certain testimony at public board 4
22	22	meetings; prohibiting an employee of a school district from withholding certain 5
23	23	information relating to a child’s health or well–being from the child’s parent or 6
24	24	guardian; requiring each county board to establish and adopt a certain policy 7
25	25	regarding the promotion of parent involvement in the public school system; requiring 8
26	26	each county board to provide a certain summary of curriculum information to 9
27	27	parents or guardians by a certain time and in a certain manner; requiring the State 10
28	28	to give a parent the opportunity to be tried before a jury before terminating the 11
29	29	parent’s rights; providing that certain parental rights are reserved to the parents 12
30	30	and guardians of minor children in the State and prohibiting the State and other 13
31	31	governmental entities from infringing on those rights, except under certain 14
32	32	circumstances; requiring a health care practitioner or the owner of a health care 15
33	33	facility or certain employees to obtain the consent of a minor’s parent or guardian 16
34	34	before providing or soliciting or arranging to provide certain health care services or 17
35	35	prescribing certain drugs to a minor; providing for a certain penalty for a certain 18
36	36	violation; and generally relating to the rights of parents and guardians. 19
37	37
38	38	BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 20
39	39	Article – Education 21
40	40	Section 2–204(a) and 3–104 22
41	41	Annotated Code of Maryland 23
42	42	(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 24
43	43
44	44	BY adding to 25
45	45	Article – Education 26
46	46	Section 7–129, 7–130, and 7–131 27
47	47	Annotated Code of Maryland 28
48	48	(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 29 2 HOUSE BILL 618
49	49
50	50
51	51
52	52	BY adding to 1
53	53	Article – Family Law 2
54	54	Section 5–1501 through 5–1505 to be under the new subtitle “Subtitle 15. Parental 3
55	55	Rights” 4
56	56	Annotated Code of Maryland 5
57	57	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 6
58	58
59	59	BY adding to 7
60	60	Article – Health – General 8
61	61	Section 20–112 9
62	62	Annotated Code of Maryland 10
63	63	(2019 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 11
64	64
65	65	SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 12
66	66	That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 13
67	67
68	68	Article – Education 14
69	69
70	70	2–204. 15
71	71
72	72	(a) (1) Each year, the State Board shall hold: 16
73	73
74	74	(i) A meeting in July; and 17
75	75
76	76	(ii) At least three other regular meetings. 18
77	77
78	78	(2) The Board may hold special meetings as necessary. 19
79	79
80	80	(3) AT EACH PUBLIC MEETIN G, THE BOARD SHALL ALLOW AT LEAST 20
81	81	10 MINUTES FOR TESTIMON Y FROM PARENTS AN D GUARDIANS OF STUDE NTS IN 21
82	82	PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN TH E STATE. 22
83	83
84	84	3–104. 23
85	85
86	86	(a) Each county board is a body politic and corporate by the name of the Board of 24
87	87	Education of…........ County. 25
88	88
89	89	(b) A county board: 26
90	90
91	91	(1) Has perpetual existence; 27
92	92
93	93	(2) May sue and be sued; and 28
94	94
95	95	(3) May have, use, alter, or abandon a common seal. 29
96	96	HOUSE BILL 618 3
97	97
98	98
99	99	(C) AT EACH PUBLIC MEETIN G, A COUNTY BOARD SHALL ALLOW AT LEAST 1
100	100	10 MINUTES FOR TESTIMON Y FROM PARENTS AND G UARDIANS OF STUDENTS IN 2
101	101	PUBLIC SCHOOL IN THE COUNTY OR BALTIMORE CITY, AS APPLICABLE. 3
102	102
103	103	7–129. 4
104	104
105	105	THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT NO INFORMATION RELATING TO THE 5
106	106	HEALTH AND WELL –BEING OF A MINOR CHILD DOCUMENTED BY ANY EM PLOYEE OF 6
107	107	THE SCHOOL DISTRICT , INCLUDING DIAGNOSES OR OBSERVATIONS GIVE N BY 7
108	108	EMPLOYEES TRAINED IN MEDICINE OR MEN TAL HEALTH , SHALL BE WITHHELD 8
109	109	FROM A CHILD’S PARENT OR GUARDIAN . 9
110	110
111	111	7–130. 10
112	112
113	113	(A) EACH COUNTY BOARD SHA LL, IN CONSULTATION WITH PARENTS, 11
114	114	TEACHERS, AND ADMINISTRATORS , ESTABLISH AND ADOPT A POLICY TO PROMOTE 12
115	115	PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. 13
116	116
117	117	(B) THE POLICY DEVELOPED UNDER SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION 14
118	118	SHALL INCLUDE : 15
119	119
120	120	(1) A PLAN FOR PARENTAL PA RTICIPATION IN SCHOO LS TO IMPROVE 16
121	121	PARENT AND TEACHER C OOPERATION IN HOMEWO RK, SCHOOL ATTENDANCE , AND 17
122	122	DISCIPLINE; 18
123	123
124	124	(2) A PROCEDURE FOR A PARE NT TO LEARN ABOUT THE PARENT’S 19
125	125	MINOR CHILD ’S COURSE OF STUDY , INCLUDING THE SOURCE OF ANY 20
126	126	SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATI ONAL MATERIALS; 21
127	127
128	128	(3) A PROCEDURE FOR A PARE NT TO OBJECT TO INST RUCTIONAL 22
129	129	MATERIALS AND OTHER MATERIALS, INCLUDING WORKBOOKS AND WORKSHEETS , 23
130	130	HANDOUTS, SOFTWARE, APPLICATIONS, AND ANY DIGITAL MEDI A MADE AVAILABLE 24
131	131	TO STUDENTS USED IN THE CLASSROOM , IF THE OBJECTION IS BASED ON BELIEFS 25
132	132	REGARDING MORALITY , RELIGION, PHILOSOPHY, ANY FUNDAMENTAL VALU E 26
133	133	SYSTEM DEEMED IMPORT ANT BY A PARENT , OR THE BELIEF THAT T HE MATERIALS 27
134	134	ARE HARMFUL ; 28
135	135
136	136	(4) A PROCEDURE FOR A PARE NT TO WITHDRAW THE M INOR CHILD 29
137	137	FROM ANY PORTION OF THE COUNTY BOARD ’S COMPREHENSIVE HEAL TH 30
138	138	EDUCATION RELATED TO ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFI CIENCY SYNDROME OR 31
139	139	SEXUALITY, INCLUDING: 32
140	140	4 HOUSE BILL 618
141	141
142	142
143	143	(I) NOTICE TO THE PARENT OF THE COURSE CONTENT BEFORE 1
144	144	PROVIDING INSTRUCTIO N ON THE CONTENT IN THE SCHOOL; AND 2
145	145
146	146	(II) A REQUIREMENT THAT , IF THE PARENT WOULD LIKE TO 3
147	147	WITHDRAW THE CHILD F ROM THE COURSE OR LE SSON, THE PARENT MUST OBJE CT 4
148	148	IN WRITING TO THE CH ILD’S PARTICIPATION ; 5
149	149
150	150	(5) A PROCEDURE FOR A PARE NT TO LEARN ABOUT TH E NATURE AND 6
151	151	PURPOSE OF CLUBS AND ACTIVITIES OFFERED A T THE MINOR CHILD ’S SCHOOL, 7
152	152	INCLUDING THOSE THAT ARE EXTRACURRICULAR OR PART OF THE SCHOO L 8
153	153	CURRICULUM ; AND 9
154	154
155	155	(6) A PROCEDURE FOR A PARE NT TO LEARN ABOUT PARENTAL 10
156	156	RIGHTS AND RESPONSIB ILITIES UNDER GENERA L LAW, INCLUDING THE RIGHTS 11
157	157	LISTED UNDER § 5–1504 OF THE FAMILY LAW ARTICLE. 12
158	158
159	159	(C) A COUNTY BOARD MAY PRO VIDE THE INFORMATION REQUIRED UNDER 13
160	160	SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS SECTION ELEC TRONICALLY. 14
161	161
162	162	(D) (1) A PARENT MAY REQUEST , IN WRITING, FROM THE COUNTY 15
163	163	SUPERINTENDENT THE I NFORMATION LISTED UN DER SUBSECTION (B) OF THIS 16
164	164	SECTION. 17
165	165
166	166	(2) A COUNTY SUPERINTENDEN T SHALL PROVIDE INFO RMATION 18
167	167	REQUESTED UNDER PARA GRAPH (1) OF THIS SUBSECTION T O THE PARENT WITHIN 19
168	168	10 DAYS AFTER THE DATE THE COUNTY SUPERINTENDENT RECEI VED THE REQUEST . 20
169	169
170	170	(3) IF A COUNTY SUPERINTE NDENT DENIES A REQUE ST FOR 21
171	171	INFORMATION OR FAILS TO RESPOND WITHIN 10 DAYS, THE PARENT MAY APPEA L 22
172	172	THE DENIAL OR DELAY TO THE COUNTY BOARD . 23
173	173
174	174	(4) A COUNTY BOARD SHALL C ONSIDER AND MAKE A DET ERMINATION 24
175	175	ON A PARENT’S APPEAL DURING : 25
176	176
177	177	(I) THE BOARD’S NEXT PUBLIC MEETIN G; OR 26
178	178
179	179	(II) IF THE PARENT’S APPEAL CANNOT BE S CHEDULED ON THE 27
180	180	AGENDA FOR THE NEXT PUBLIC MEETING , THE BOARD’S IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW ING 28
181	181	NEXT PUBLIC MEETING . 29
182	182
183	183	7–131. 30
184	184	HOUSE BILL 618 5
185	185
186	186
187	187	AT LEAST 14 DAYS BEFORE THE FIRS T DAY OF EACH SCHOOL YEAR, EACH 1
188	188	COUNTY BOARD SHALL P ROVIDE TO THE PARENT OR GUARDIAN OF EACH STUDENT 2
189	189	ENROLLED IN A PUBLIC SCHOOL UNDER THE COU NTY BOARD’S JURISDICTION A 3
190	190	WRITTEN SUMMARY OF T HE CURRICULUM FOR TH E STUDENT’S GRADE WRITTEN IN 4
191	191	PLAIN LANGUAGE AND E XPLAINING ANY CHANGE S IN THE CURRICULUM FROM THE 5
192	192	IMMEDIATELY PRECEDIN G SCHOOL YEAR . 6
193	193
194	194	Article – Family Law 7
195	195
196	196	SUBTITLE 15. PARENTAL RIGHTS. 8
197	197
198	198	5–1501. 9
199	199
200	200	(A) IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS 10
201	201	INDICATED. 11
202	202
203	203	(B) “COUNTY BOARD ” MEANS A COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION , INCLUDING 12
204	204	THE BALTIMORE CITY BOARD OF SCHOOL COMMISSIONERS . 13
205	205
206	206	(C) “PARENT” MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS LEGAL CUSTOD Y OF A 14
207	207	MINOR CHILD AS A NAT URAL OR ADOPTIVE PAR ENT OR A LEGAL GUARD IAN. 15
208	208
209	209	5–1502. 16
210	210
211	211	THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY FINDS THAT : 17
212	212
213	213	(1) IT IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT OF PARENTS TO DIRECT THE 18
214	214	UPBRINGING, EDUCATION, AND CARE OF THEIR MI NOR CHILDREN ; 19
215	215
216	216	(2) NO INFORMATION RELATING TO A MINOR CHILD SHO ULD BE 20
217	217	WITHHELD, EITHER INADVERTENTLY OR PURPOSE FULLY, FROM THE CHILD ’S 21
218	218	PARENT, INCLUDING INFORMATIO N RELATING TO THE CH ILD’S HEALTH , 22
219	219	WELL–BEING, AND EDUCATION WHILE THE CHILD IS IN THE CUSTODY OF A LOCAL 23
220	220	SCHOOL SYSTEM ; AND 24
221	221
222	222	(3) IT IS NECESSARY TO E STABLISH A CONSISTEN T MECHANISM FOR 25
223	223	PARENTS TO BE NO TIFIED OF INFORMATIO N RELATING TO THE HE ALTH AND 26
224	224	WELL–BEING OF THEIR MINOR CHILDREN. 27
225	225
226	226	5–1503. 28
227	227
228	228	(A) THE STATE, ANY OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, ANY OTHER 29
229	229	GOVERNMENTAL ENTITY , OR ANY OTHER INSTITU TION MAY NOT INFRING E ON THE 30
230	230	FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS O F A PARENT TO DIRECT THE UPBR INGING, EDUCATION, 31 6 HOUSE BILL 618
231	231
232	232
233	233	HEALTH CARE , AND MENTAL HEALTH OF THE PARENT ’S MINOR CHILD WITHOU T 1
234	234	DEMONSTRATING THAT T HE ACTION IS: 2
235	235
236	236	(1) REASONABLE AND NECES SARY TO ACHIEVE A CO MPELLING STATE 3
237	237	INTEREST; 4
238	238
239	239	(2) NARROWLY TAILORED ; AND 5
240	240
241	241	(3) NOT OTHERWISE SERVED BY A LESS RESTRICTIVE MEA NS. 6
242	242
243	243	(B) BEFORE TERMINATING A PARENT ’S RIGHTS, THE STATE SHALL GIVE 7
244	244	THE PARENT THE OPPORTUNI TY TO BE TRIED BEFORE A JURY . 8
245	245
246	246	5–1504. 9
247	247
248	248	(A) ALL PARENTAL RIGHTS A RE RESERVED TO THE P ARENT OF A MINOR 10
249	249	CHILD IN THE STATE WITHOUT OBSTRUCTION OR INTERFERENCE FROM THE STATE, 11
250	250	ANY OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS, ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AL ENTITY, OR ANY 12
251	251	OTHER INSTITUTION , INCLUDING, EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY LAW , THE 13
252	252	RIGHT TO: 14
253	253
254	254	(1) DIRECT THE EDUCATION AND CARE OF THE CHIL D; 15
255	255
256	256	(2) DIRECT THE UPBRINGIN G AND THE MORAL OR R ELIGIOUS 16
257	257	TRAINING OF THE CHIL D; 17
258	258
259	259	(3) APPLY TO ENROLL THE CHILD IN A PUBLIC SC HOOL OR, AS AN 18
260	260	ALTERNATIVE TO PUBLI C EDUCATION , A NONPUBLIC SCHOOL , INCLUDING A 19
261	261	RELIGIOUS SCHOOL , A HOME EDUCATION PRO GRAM, OR ANY OTHER AVAILABLE 20
262	262	OPTIONS, AS AUTHORIZED BY LAW ; 21
263	263
264	264	(4) ACCESS AND REVIEW AL L SCHOOL RECORDS REL ATING TO THE 22
265	265	CHILD; 23
266	266
267	267	(5) MAKE HEALTH CARE DEC ISIONS FOR THE CHILD ; 24
268	268
269	269	(6) ACCESS AND REVIEW AL L MEDICAL RECORDS OF THE CHILD, 25
270	270	UNLESS THE PARENT IS THE SUBJECT OF AN INVESTIGATION OF A CRIME 26
271	271	COMMITTED AGAINST TH E CHILD OR PARENTAL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TERMINATED ; 27
272	272
273	273	(7) CONSENT, IN WRITING, BEFORE A BIOMETRIC S CAN OF THE CHILD 28
274	274	IS MADE, SHARED, OR STORED; 29
275	275	HOUSE BILL 618 7
276	276
277	277
278	278	(8) CONSENT, IN WRITING, BEFORE ANY RECORD OF THE CHILD’S 1
279	279	BLOOD OR DNA IS CREATED, STORED, OR SHARED; 2
280	280
281	281	(9) BE NOTIFIED PROMPTLY IF AN EMPLOYEE OF TH E STATE, ANY OF 3
282	282	ITS POLITICAL SUBDIV ISIONS, ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AL ENTITY, OR ANY OTHER 4
283	283	INSTITUTION SUSPECTS THAT A CRIMINAL OFFE NSE HAS BEEN COMMITT ED 5
284	284	AGAINST THE C HILD, UNLESS THE PARENT IS THE SUBJEC T OF THE INVESTIGATI ON; 6
285	285
286	286	(10) OPT THE CHILD OUT OF ANY PORTION OF THE C OMPREHENSIVE 7
287	287	HEALTH EDUCATION REQ UIRED THAT RELATES T O SEX EDUCATION INST RUCTION IN 8
288	288	ACQUIRED IMMUNE DEFI CIENCY SYNDROME EDUC ATION OR ANY INSTRUCTION 9
289	289	REGARDING SEXUALITY ; 10
290	290
291	291	(11) EXEMPT THE CHILD FRO M IMMUNIZATIONS IN A CCORDANCE WITH 11
292	292	§ 7–403 OF THE EDUCATION ARTICLE; 12
293	293
294	294	(12) REVIEW STATEWIDE STA NDARDIZED ASSESSMENT RESULTS; 13
295	295
296	296	(13) ENROLL THE CHILD IN GIFTED OR SPECIAL ED UCATION 14
297	297	PROGRAMS; 15
298	298
299	299	(14) INSPECT INSTRUCTIONA L MATERIALS USED BY THE COUNTY 16
300	300	BOARD; 17
301	301
302	302	(15) ACCESS INFORMATION R ELATING TO THE COUNT Y BOARD’S 18
303	303	POLICIES FOR THE PRO MOTION OR RETENTION OF STUDENTS , INCLUDING HIGH 19
304	304	SCHOOL GRADUATION RE QUIREMENTS ; 20
305	305
306	306	(16) RECEIVE A SCHOOL REP ORT CARD AND BE INFORMED O F THE 21
307	307	CHILD’S ATTENDANCE REQUIRE MENTS; 22
308	308
309	309	(17) ACCESS INFORMATION R ELATING TO THE STATE PUBLIC 23
310	310	EDUCATION SYSTEM , STATE STANDARDS , REPORT CARD REQUIREM ENTS, 24
311	311	ATTENDANCE REQUIREME NTS, AND INSTRUCTIONAL MA TERIALS REQUIREMENTS ; 25
312	312
313	313	(18) PARTICIPATE IN PARENT –TEACHER ASSOCIATIONS AND 26
314	314	ORGANIZATIONS THAT A RE SANCTIONED BY A C OUNTY BOARD OR THE STATE 27
315	315	DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION; AND 28
316	316
317	317	(19) OPT OUT OF ANY COUNT Y–LEVEL DATA COLLECTIO N RELATING TO 29
318	318	THE CHILD. 30
319	319	8 HOUSE BILL 618
320	320
321	321
322	322	(B) AN EMPLOYEE OF THE STATE, ANY OF ITS POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS , OR 1
323	323	ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT AL ENTITY THAT ENCOU RAGES OR COERCES , OR 2
324	324	ATTEMPTS TO ENCOURAG E OR COERCE , A MINOR CHILD TO WIT HHOLD 3
325	325	INFORMATION FROM THE CHILD’S PARENT MAY BE SUBJ ECT TO DISCIPLINARY 4
326	326	ACTION BY THE APPROP RIATE AUTHORITY . 5
327	327
328	328	(C) (1) A PARENT OF A MINOR CH ILD IN THE STATE HAS INALIENABLE 6
329	329	RIGHTS THAT ARE MORE COMPREHENSIVE THAN T HOSE LISTED IN THIS SECTION, 7
330	330	UNLESS THE RIGHTS HA VE BEEN LEGALLY WAIV ED OR TERMINATED . 8
331	331
332	332	(2) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE P ROVIDED BY LAW , THE RIGHTS OF A 9
333	333	PARENT OF A MINOR CHILD IN THE STATE MAY NOT BE LIMI TED OR DENIED . 10
334	334
335	335	(D) THIS SUBTITLE MAY NOT BE CONSTRUED TO PRESCRIBE ALL RIGHTS TO 11
336	336	A PARENT OF A MINOR CHILD IN THE STATE. 12
337	337
338	338	5–1505. 13
339	339
340	340	THIS SUBTITLE MAY BE CITED AS THE PARENTS’ BILL OF RIGHTS. 14
341	341
342	342	Article – Health – General 15
343	343
344	344	20–112. 16
345	345
346	346	(A) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE P ROVIDED BY LAW , A HEALTH CARE 17
347	347	PRACTITIONER OR INDI VIDUAL EMPLOYED BY A HEALTH CARE PRACTITI ONER 18
348	348	SHALL OBTAIN CONSENT FROM A MINOR ’S PARENT OR GUARDIAN BEFORE 19
349	349	PROVIDING OR SOLICIT ING OR ARRANGING TO PROVIDE HEALTH CARE SERVICES OR 20
350	350	PRESCRIBE MEDICINAL DRUGS TO A MINOR . 21
351	351
352	352	(B) EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE P ROVIDED BY LAW , THE OWNER OF A HEALT H 22
353	353	CARE FACILITY SHALL OBTAIN CONSENT FROM A MINOR’S PARENT OR GUARDIAN 23
354	354	BEFORE ALLOWING A ME DICAL PROCEDURE TO B E PERFORMED ON A MIN OR AT THE 24
355	355	FACILITY. 25
356	356
357	357	(C) A PERSON WHO VIOLATES THIS SECTION: 26
358	358
359	359	(1) MAY BE SUBJECT TO DIS CIPLINARY ACTION BY THE APPROPRIATE 27
360	360	LICENSING BOARD ; AND 28
361	361
362	362	(2) IS GUILTY OF A MISDEM EANOR AND ON CONVICT ION IS SUBJECT 29
363	363	TO IMPRISONMENT NOT EXCEEDING 1 YEAR OR A FINE NOT EXCEEDING $5,000 OR 30
364	364	BOTH. 31
365	365	HOUSE BILL 618 9
366	366
367	367
368	368	SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 1
369	369	1, 2022. 2
370	370