1.1 A bill for an act
1.2 relating to families; creating a parent's bill of rights; proposing coding for new law
1.3 in Minnesota Statutes, chapter 260C.
1.4BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:
1.5 Section 1. [260C.009] PARENT'S BILL OF RIGHTS.
1.6 Subdivision 1.Short title.This act is known as the "Parent's Bill of Rights."
1.7 Subd. 2.Definitions.As used in this act, unless the context otherwise requires:
1.8 (1) "minor child" means a person 17 years of age or younger; and
1.9 (2) "parent" means the natural or adoptive parent or legal guardian of a minor child.
1.10 Subd. 3.Parental rights reserved.(a) This state, any political subdivision of this state,
1.11or any other governmental entity or institution granted authority to act on behalf of the state
1.12shall not infringe on the fundamental right of a parent to direct the upbringing, education,
1.13and physical and mental health care of the parent's minor child. All parental rights are
1.14reserved to a parent of a minor child without obstruction or interference from this state, any
1.15political subdivision of this state, or any other governmental entity or institution including
1.16but not limited to the right to:
1.17 (1) direct the education of the minor child, whether it be public, charter, private, or home
1.18education;
1.19 (2) access, review, and oversee the privacy of all school records relating to the minor
1.20child;
1.21 (3) direct the upbringing of the minor child;
1Section 1.
25-01383 as introduced12/17/24 REVISOR DTT/LN
SENATE
STATE OF MINNESOTA
S.F. No. 55NINETY-FOURTH SESSION
(SENATE AUTHORS: GRUENHAGEN)
OFFICIAL STATUSD-PGDATE
Introduction and first reading01/16/2025
Referred to Human Services 2.1 (4) direct the moral or religious training of the minor child;
2.2 (5) have informed consent in making health care decisions for the minor child including
2.3the choice of health care team and the right to accept or decline biological, pharmaceutical,
2.4and supplemental interventions in coordination with the selected health care team;
2.5 (6) access and review all medical records and physical samples of the minor child;
2.6 (7) consent in writing before any physical or mental health examinations take place,
2.7unless a medical emergency exists requiring immediate examination to save the life of the
2.8minor child;
2.9 (8) consent in writing before any pharmaceutical, surgical, or therapeutic interventions
2.10take place, unless a medical emergency exists requiring treatment to save the life of the
2.11minor child;
2.12 (9) consent in writing before any biometric scan of the minor child occurs or is shared
2.13or stored;
2.14 (10) consent in writing before any record of the minor child's blood or DNA is made,
2.15shared, or stored, unless obtaining such blood or DNA is otherwise required by law or
2.16authorized pursuant to a court order;
2.17 (11) consent in writing before the state or any of its political subdivisions makes a video
2.18or voice recording of the minor child, unless the video or voice recording is to be used solely
2.19for any of the following purposes:
2.20 (i) the maintenance of order and discipline in the common areas of a school or on school
2.21vehicles;
2.22 (ii) a purpose related to a legitimate academic or extracurricular activity;
2.23 (iii) a purpose related to regular classroom instruction;
2.24 (iv) security or surveillance of buildings or grounds; or
2.25 (v) a photo identification card; and
2.26 (12) be notified promptly if an employee of this state, any political subdivision of this
2.27state, any other governmental entity or institution, or any other institution suspects that a
2.28criminal offense has been committed against the minor child by someone other than a parent.
2.29This paragraph does not create any new obligation for a school district or charter school to
2.30report misconduct, such as fighting or aggressive play, between students at school that is
2.31routinely addressed by the school as a student disciplinary matter.
2Section 1.
25-01383 as introduced12/17/24 REVISOR DTT/LN 3.1 (b) Any attempt to encourage or coerce a minor child to withhold information from the
3.2minor child's parent is grounds for discipline of an employee of this state, any political
3.3subdivision of this state, or any other governmental entity or institution.
3.4 (c) Any attempt to coerce or discriminate against the parent of a minor child for exercising
3.5these rights is grounds for discipline of an employee of this state, any political subdivision
3.6of this state, or any other governmental entity or institution.
3.7 (d) This section does not authorize or allow a parent to abuse or neglect a minor child
3.8in violation of state law. This section does not apply to a parental action or decision that
3.9would end life. This section does not prohibit courts, law enforcement, or a government
3.10agency from acting in an official capacity within the reasonable and prudent scope of their
3.11authority and these rights.
3.12 (e) Unless a right has been legally waived or legally terminated, a parent has inalienable
3.13rights that are more comprehensive than those listed in this act. The parent's bill of rights
3.14does not prescribe all rights of a parent. Unless otherwise required by law, the rights of a
3.15parent of a minor child must not be limited or denied.
3Section 1.
25-01383 as introduced12/17/24 REVISOR DTT/LN