SECONDREGULARSESSION
HOUSEBILLNO.1995
101STGENERALASSEMBLY
INTRODUCEDBYREPRESENTATIVERICHEY.
4180H.01I DANARADEMANMILLER,ChiefClerk
ANACT
Toamendchapter161,RSMo,byaddingtheretothreenewsectionsrelatingtoparentalrights
inpublicschools,withpenaltyprovisionsandanemergencyclause.
BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows:
SectionA.Chapter161,RSMo,isamendedbyaddingtheretothreenewsections,to
2beknownassections161.851,161.852,and161.853,toreadasfollows:
161.851.1.Thissectionshallbeknownandmaybecitedas"TheParents'Billof
2RightsforStudentWell-Being".
3 2.Forthepurposesofthissection,theterm"parent"shallmeananypersonwho
4hascharge,control,orcustodyofaminorchild,whetherasanaturalparent,adoptive
5parent,orlegalguardian.
6 3.Nogovernmentalentity,schooldistrict,orotherpublicinstitutionshall
7infringeonthefundamentalrightsofaparenttodirecttheupbringing,education,
8healthcare,ormentalhealthofsuchparent'sminorchildwithoutfirstdemonstrating
9thatsuchinfringementisreasonable,narrowlytailoredtoachieveacompellingstate
10interest,andthatsuchinterestcouldnototherwisebeservedbylessrestrictivemeans.
11 4.Forthepurposesofsubsection3ofthissection,aparent'sfundamentalrights
12todirecttheupbringing,education,healthcare,andmentalhealthofsuchparent's
13minorchildshallinclude,butnotbelimitedto,thefollowing:
14 (1)Therighttodirecttheethical,moral,andreligioustrainingofsuchchild;
15 (2)Therighttoenrollsuchchildinapublicschool,parochialschool,home
16schoolprogram,orotheravailableschoolingoption,totheextentotherwiseauthorized
17bylaw;
EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis
intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 18 (3)Therighttodirecttheeducationofsuchchildincluding,butnotlimitedto,
19therighttoaccessandreviewthefollowinginformation:
20 (a)Allschoolrecordsrelatingtosuchchildincluding,butnotlimitedto,a
21regularreportofsuchchild'sacademicperformanceandattendance;
22 (b)Suchchild'sstatewide,standardizedassessmentresults;
23 (c)Schooldistrictinstructionalmaterials;
24 (d)Schooldistrictpoliciesforpromotionorretentionincluding,butnotlimited
25to,graduationrequirements;and
26 (e)Informationrelatingtothestate'sacademicperformancestandards,report
27cardrequirements,attendancerequirements,andinstructionalmaterialsrequirements;
28 (4)Therighttoparticipateinparent-teacherassociationsandorganizations
29sanctionedbytheschooldistrictordepartmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducation;
30 (5)Theright,undersection162.720,torequestareviewofaschooldistrict's
31determinationthatsuchchilddidnotqualifytoreceiveservicesthroughsuchdistrict's
32giftededucationprogram;
33 (6)Therighttomakehealthcaredecisionsforsuchchild,exceptasotherwise
34prohibitedbylaw;
35 (7)Therighttoexemptsuchminorchildfromimmunizationsundersubsection
363ofsection167.181;
37 (8)Therighttoconsentinwritingbeforebiometricdata,asdefinedinsection
38302.170,regardingsuchchildismade,shared,orstored,exceptasrequiredbylawor
39courtorder;and
40 (9)Therighttoconsentinwritingbeforeanygovernmentalentity,school
41district,orotherpublicinstitutionproducesavideooraudiorecordingofsuchchild
42unlesssuchrecordingismadeforthepurposesof:
43 (a)Acourtproceeding,forensicinterview,orcriminalorotherinvestigation
44relatedtothewelfareofsuchchild;
45 (b)Themaintenanceoforderanddisciplineinaschoolbuilding,onschool
46grounds,andonstudenttransportationvehicles;
47 (c)Alegitimateacademicorextracurricularactivity;
48 (d)Regularclassroominstruction;
49 (e)Securityorsurveillanceofschoolbuildings,schoolgrounds,orstudent
50transportationvehicles;or
51 (f)Aphotoidentificationcard.
52 5.Eachschooldistrictshall,inconsultationwithparents,teachers,and
53administrators,developandadoptapolicytopromoteparentalinvolvementinthe
54publicschoolsystem.Suchpolicyshallincludeatleast:
HB1995 2 55 (1)Aplanforparentalparticipationinschools,includingthroughcooperation
56withteachersregardinghomework,schoolattendance,anddiscipline;
57 (2)Proceduresforaparenttoreceiveinformationaboutsuchparent'schild's
58courseofstudyincluding,butnotlimitedto,thesourceofanysupplementaleducational
59materials;
60 (3)Proceduresforaparenttoobjecttoinstructionalmaterialsandother
61materialsusedintheclassroombasedonsuchparent'sbeliefsregardingmorality,
62sexuality,religion,orotherissuesrelatedtothewell-being,education,andupbringingof
63suchparent'schild;
64 (4)Proceduresforaparenttowithdrawsuchparent'schildfromanyportionof
65theschooldistrict'shealtheducationrelatedtohumansexualityandsexually
66transmitteddiseases;
67 (5)Proceduresforaparenttolearnaboutthenatureandpurposeofclubsand
68otherextracurricularactivitiesofferedatsuchparent'schild'sschool;and
69 (6)Proceduresforprovidingparentswithotherinformationtowhichsuch
70parentshavearightofaccessundersubsection4ofthissection.
71 6.Thedepartmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducationshalldevelopand
72everyschooldistrictshallusethefollowingforms:
73 (1)Aformthatauthorizesaparenttoobjecttoandoptoutofanyinstructional
74materialsormaterialsusedinthechild'sclassroomasdescribedinsubdivisions(3)and
75(4)ofsubsection5ofthissection.Suchformshallbemadeavailabletoeveryparentat
76thebeginningofaschoolyearbyeachschooldistrict;
77 (2)Aformthatissenttoeveryparentbytheschooldistrictatthebeginningof
78everyschoolyearthatallowsaparenttoaskfornotificationinadvancebytheschool
79attendedbytheparent'schildwheneverateacherintendstoteachadivisiveor
80controversialtopicthatmayconflictwithaparent'sbeliefthatallpersons,regardlessof
81race,ethnicity,color,nationalorigin,orancestry,shouldbetreatedequally.Ifaparent
82submitssuchformtothechild'sschool,theschoolshallprovidenoticeatleasttwoweeks
83inadvanceoftheteachingofanysuchdivisiveorcontroversialtopic.
84 7.Eachschooldistrictmayprovideanyinformationtowhichaparenthasa
85rightofaccessunderthissectionbypublishingsuchinformationelectronicallyina
86reasonablyaccessibleformat,excepttotheextentthatsuchpublicationwouldresultin
87thedisclosureofpersonallyidentifiableorconfidentialinformationinviolationofother
88law.
89 8.Aparentmayfileaformalrequestinwritingwiththesuperintendentofthe
90parent'schild'sschooldistrictforaccesstoanyinformationtowhichsuchparenthasa
91rightofaccessunderthissection.Thesuperintendentshallprovidesuchinformationto
HB1995 3 92theparentwithintendaysandmaydosobyanyreasonablemeansincluding,butnot
93limitedto,bydirectingtheparenttoelectronicresourcestotheextentsuchresources
94areresponsivetotheparent'srequest.Ifthesuperintendentdeniessuchrequestordoes
95notrespondwithintendays,theparentmayfileanappealwiththeschoolboard.The
96schoolboardshallplacetheparent'sappealontheagendaforthenextpublicmeetingof
97theboard,providedthattheschoolboardmayinsteadplacesuchappealontheagenda
98forthepublicmeetingoftheboardtooccursubsequenttothenextsuchmeetingifthe
99appealisfiledwithinsevendaysofthenextsuchmeeting.
100 9.Noemployeeofanygovernmentalentity,schooldistrict,orotherpublic
101institutionshallencourage,coerce,orattempttocoerceaminorchildtowithhold
102informationfromsuchchild'sparents;provided,however,thatanysuchperson
103requiredtoreportsuspectedabuseorneglectundersections210.109to210.183may
104encourageaminorchildtowithholdinformationwheredisclosurecouldreasonably
105resultinabuseorneglect.Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflawtothecontrary,
106anypersonfoundinviolationofthissubsectionmaybesubjecttodisciplinaryactionby
107suchperson'semployer.
108 10.Thissectionshallnotbeconstruedto:
109 (1)Authorizeaparenttoengageinunlawfulconduct,suchasabuseorneglect;
110 (2)Condone,authorize,approve,orapplytoanyparentalactionordecisionthat
111wouldendlife;
112 (3)Prohibitacourtofcompetentjurisdiction,alawenforcementofficer,or
113employeesofagovernmentalentityorotherpublicinstitutionresponsibleforchild
114welfarefromactingwithinthereasonableandprudentscopeofsuchcourtorperson's
115officialcapacityandauthority;
116 (4)Modifythecommonlawdoctrineofinlocoparentisassuchdoctrineapplies
117totheoperationofpublicschoolsandtothedutiesofadministratorsandemployeesof
118suchschools;or
119 (5)Limittheinalienablerightsofaparent,whetherenumeratedinthe
120provisionsofthissection.
121 11.(1)Aparentmayfilewiththeschoolboardaformalobjectiontoanyschool
122policy,practice,orprocedurethatviolatesanyprovisionofthissection.Schoolboards
123shallprovidebygeneralrulenotinconsistentwiththissectionfortheprocedureand
124conductforfilingandrespondingtosuchobjections.Withinthirtydaysofreceiptofthe
125objection,theschoolboardshallissuearesponsedenyingtheparent'sobjectionor
126describinganimplementationplantoimmediatelycorrecttheviolation.
127 (2)Theschoolboardmaydenyanyobjectionallegingademinimisinfringement
128ofparentalrightsoriftherequestedaccommodationisunreasonable.Analleged
HB1995 4 129infringementofparentalrightsshallbeconsidereddeminimisifitdoesnotmaterially
130infringeuponanyrightprovidedinthissection.
131 (3)Aparentwhoseformalobjectionhasbeendeniedshallhavetherightto
132appealsuchdecisiontothedepartmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducation.The
133appealshallbetakenwithinfifteendaysofthedecisionoftheschoolboardandmaybe
134takenbyfilinganoticeofappealwiththedepartmentofelementaryandsecondary
135education.Suchappealshallbeheardasprovidedinchapter536.
136 (4)Followingafinaldecisionbythedepartmentofelementaryandsecondary
137educationinanappealtakenundersubdivision(3)ofthissubsection,aparentmayseek
138judicialreviewofsuchdecisioninthecircuitcourtforthecountyinwhichtheschool
139districtislocated.
140 (a)Uponafindingbyapreponderanceoftheevidencethataschooldistricthas
141knowinglyviolatedtheprovisionsofthissection,aparentshallbeawardedone
142thousanddollarsperviolationandthepaymentbytheschooldistricttotheparentofall
143costsandreasonableattorney'sfees.
144 (b)Uponafindingbyapreponderanceoftheevidencethataschooldistricthas
145purposelyviolatedtheprovisionsofthissection,aparentshallbeawardedfivethousand
146dollarsperviolationandthepaymentbytheschooldistricttotheparentofallcostsand
147reasonableattorney'sfees.
148 12.Thedepartmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducationmaypromulgate
149rulestoimplementtheprovisionsofthissection.Anyruleorportionofarule,asthat
150termisdefinedinsection536.010,thatiscreatedundertheauthoritydelegatedinthis
151sectionshallbecomeeffectiveonlyifitcomplieswithandissubjecttoallofthe
152provisionsofchapter536and,ifapplicable,section536.028.Thissectionandchapter
153536arenonseverable,andifanyofthepowersvestedwiththegeneralassembly
154pursuanttochapter536toreview,todelaytheeffectivedate,ortodisapproveandannul
155arulearesubsequentlyheldunconstitutional,thenthegrantofrulemakingauthority
156andanyruleproposedoradoptedafterAugust28,2022,shallbeinvalidandvoid.
161.852.1.Thecommissionerofeducationshallestablishthe"Missouri
2EducationTransparencyandAccountabilityPortal",whichshallbeaninternet-based
3toolcreatingtransparencyinMissouri'spubliceducationsystemandprovidingcitizens
4accesstoeveryschooldistrict'scurriculum,sourcematerials,andprofessional
5developmentmaterials.
6 2.Theportalshallconsistofaneasy-to-searchdatabaseincluding,butnot
7limitedto,thefollowing:
8 (1)Allcurriculumtaughtbytheschooldistrict;
9 (2)Allsourcematerialsusedtodevelopadistrict'scurriculum;
HB1995 5 10 (3)Alldocumentsusedbyaschooldistrictintheprofessionaldevelopmentofthe
11district'sfacultyandstaffincluding,butnotlimitedto,administrators,teachers,
12counselors,andclassroomsupportstaff;
13 (4)Allsourcematerialsusedtodevelopthedocumentsusedbyaschooldistrict
14intheschooldistrict'sprofessionaldevelopmentmaterialsasoutlinedinsubdivision(3)
15ofthissubsection;
16 (5)Allspeakersandguestsusedbyaschooldistrictintheschooldistrict's
17professionaldevelopmentactivities;and
18 (6)Thecostassociatedwithspeakersandguestsusedbyaschooldistrictinthe
19schooldistrict'sprofessionaldevelopmentactivities.
20 3.Thecommissionerofeducationshallestablishanonlineformthateachschool
21districtinthisstateshallcompletewithinformationrequiredundersubsection2ofthis
22section.
23 4.Aschooldistrictshallsubmitanyupdatestotheinformationoutlinedin
24subsection2ofthissectionwithinfivebusinessdaysoftheinformationchanging.
25 5.Thecommissionerofeducationshallupdatetheportalwiththeinformation
26requiredbythissectiontobesubmittedbyeachschooldistrictnolessthanweeklyand
27shallensurethattheportalismaintainedastheprimarycentralizedsourceof
28informationaboutthecurriculumandinstructionalmaterialsusedbypublicschool
29districts.
30 6.Thedepartmentofelementaryandsecondaryeducationmaypromulgate
31rulestoimplementthissection.Anyruleorportionofarule,asthattermisdefinedin
32section536.010,thatiscreatedundertheauthoritydelegatedinthissectionshall
33becomeeffectiveonlyifitcomplieswithandissubjecttoalloftheprovisionsofchapter
34536and,ifapplicable,section536.028.Thissectionandchapter536arenonseverable,
35andifanyofthepowersvestedwiththegeneralassemblypursuanttochapter536to
36review,todelaytheeffectivedate,ortodisapproveandannularulearesubsequently
37heldunconstitutional,thenthegrantofrulemakingauthorityandanyruleproposedor
38adoptedafterAugust28,2022,shallbeinvalidandvoid.
161.853.1.Theattorneygeneralofthisstateoranyparentofachildenrolledin
2apublicschoolinthisstatemaybringlegalactionagainsttheschooldistrictinwhich
3suchparent'schildisenrolledforviolationsofsections161.851to161.852.Suchaction
4maybebroughtinanycountyoranycitynotwithinacountyinwhichtheschool
5districtboundarieslieormaybebroughtintheColeCountycircuitcourt.
6 2.Ifacourtofcompetentjurisdictionfindsthataschooldistrictviolatedthe
7provisionsofsections161.851to161.852,theschooldistrictshallbefinedonethousand
8dollarsforeachviolationofsuchsectionsunlessthecourtfindsthattheschooldistrict
HB1995 6 9knowinglyorpurposelyviolatedtheprovisionsofsuchsections.Ifacourtofcompetent
10jurisdictionfindsthataschooldistrictknowinglyorpurposelyviolatedtheprovisionsof
11suchsections,theschooldistrictshallbefinedtenthousanddollarsforeachviolationof
12suchsections.
13 3.(1)Ifaschooldistrictisfinedbyacourtofcompetentjurisdictionfor
14violationsofsections161.851to161.852,theproceedsofsuchfineshallbedividedas
15follows:
16 (a)Twentypercentshallbeawardedtotheparentwhobroughtthelegalaction
17againsttheschooldistrict.Ifparentsofmorethanonechildbringsuit,thetwenty
18percentawardshallbedividedequallyamongeachfamilyrepresented;and
19 (b)EightypercentshallbedepositedintotheMissouriempowerment
20scholarshipaccountsfundestablishedundersection135.716.
21 (2)Ifacourtofcompetentjurisdictionfindsthataschooldistrictviolatedthe
22provisionsofsections161.851to161.852,thecourtshallawardcourtcostsand
23reasonableattorney'sfeestotheprevailingpartyorparties.
24 4.Anyschooldistrictemployeewhodisclosesviolationsofsections161.851to
25161.852shallbeprotectedfromanymannerofretaliationassetforthinsection105.055.
SectionB.Becauseimmediateactionisnecessarytoprotecttherightsofparentsand
2theirchildren,sectionAofthisactisdeemednecessaryfortheimmediatepreservationofthe
3publichealth,welfare,peace,andsafety,andisherebydeclaredtobeanemergencyactwithin
4themeaningoftheconstitution,andsectionAofthisactshallbeinfullforceandeffectupon
5itspassageandapproval.
âś”
HB1995 7