HB1995--PARENTALRIGHTSINPUBLICSCHOOLS
SPONSOR: Richey
Thisbillenumeratesrightsforparentsinareasrelatingto
education,healthcare,andmentalhealth,andestablishes"The
Parents'BillofRightsforStudentWell-Being".Rightslisted
includetherighttodirectethical,moral,andreligioustraining,
therighttoenrollhisorherchildinapublic,parochial,or
homeschool,andtherighttoexempthisorherchildfrom
immunizations. Additionalrightsarelistedinthebill.
Thebillrequiresschooldistrictstoadoptapolicytopromote
parentalinvolvementwithdetailedproceduresasoutlinedinthe
billincludingproceduresforobjectiontoinstructionalmaterials
andforparentalwithdrawalfromhealtheducationcoursesrelating
tohumansexualityandsexuallytransmitteddiseases.
ThebillrequiresthattheDepartmentofElementaryandSecondary
Education(DESE)developspecificformsthatschooldistrictsmust
useforparentstooptoutofinstructionalmaterial,andfor
parentstobenotifiedinadvancewheneverateacherintendsto
teachadivisiveorcontroversialtopic.
Thebillpermitsinformationthatisrequiredtobeprovidedto
parentstobedeliveredelectronically andestablishesaformal
requestprocesswithspecifictimeperiodsforsuperintendents to
complybeforeanappealprocesstotheschoolboardwithdetails
outlinedinthebill.Parent'smayalsodirectlyfileformal
objectionswiththeschoolboardandthebillestablishesanappeal
processtoDESEforanydeniedobjectionsandallowsanyDESE
decisiontobetakentothecircuitcourtforajudicialreview.
Thebilloutlinesapenaltyof$1000perviolationandattorney
feesforknowinglyviolationsand$5000perpurposefulviolation
(Section161.851RSMo).
Thebillestablishesthe"MissouriEducationTransparencyand
Accountability Portal"whichshallconsistofaninternet-based
tooltogiveaccesstoeveryschooldistrict'scurriculum,source
materials,andprofessionaldevelopmentmaterials. Detailsforthe
databaseareoutlinedandtheCommissionerofEducationshall
establishformsfordistrictstocomplete. Schooldistrictsare
requiredtosubmitupdatestoanyrequiredinformationwithinfive
businessdaysandthecommissionerofeducationshallupdatethe
databaseportalweekly(Section161.852).
ThebillprovidesthattheAttorneyGeneral'sofficehastheright
tobringlegalactionforviolationsofSections161.851to
161.852,andprovidesapenaltyprovisionforeachviolationupto $10,000foreachknowingorpurposefulviolation. Thebill
providesthatfinesforviolationswillbedividedwith20%going
totheparentswhobroughtthesuitand80%tobegiventothe
MissouriEmpowermentScholarshipFund.Schooldistrictemployees
thatdiscloseviolationsareprotectedfromretaliation(Section
161.853).
Thisbillcontainsanemergencyclauseandpenaltyprovisions.