House lawmakers consider 'Parent's Bill of Rights'

As a parent, what are your rights?

HF22 would define those rights.

The bill establishes what Rep. Dawn Gillman (R-Dassel), the bill sponsor, calls the “Parent's Bill of Rights,” by listing fundamental rights of parents and prohibiting any political subdivision of the state or any other governmental entity or institution granted authority to act on behalf of the state, from infringing upon those rights.

“We need to empower parents with resources to guide their children's upbringing and give them the seat at the table,” Gillman said. “This bill specifically names the rights to direct education — whether it be public, charter, private, or home education. Additionally, the bill directs the upbringing moral and religious training of a child and have informed consent on health care decisions. Transparency and accountability are pillars of good government, and this bill ensures you're doing just that. This bill does not create new rights but rather recognizes the rights parents already have.”

The House Children and Families Finance and Policy Committee approved the bill, as amended, on a split-voice vote and moved it to the House Education Policy Committee.

While not necessarily against the bill, Rep. Jessica Hanson (DFL-Burnsville) questioned if it was ready to move forward.

“I just think that there's a lot more expertise that needs to be applied to really pull this through,” Hanson said. “… You have a lot more work to do and a lot of stakeholders to talk to: county protection, social workers, Department of Children, Youth, and Families. I mean you have a list so you should work that and really think about every scenario.”

Alecia Leiviska, co-director of Minnesotans for Health and Parental Rights, testified in support of the idea.

“The ‘Parent's Bill of Rights’ provides clear, consistent protection for parents and families across Minnesota by ensuring that parental rights are firmly established and respected,” Leiviska said. “We can foster stronger communities where families have the support and autonomy to make the best decisions for their children. A Parent's Bill of Rights will not only safeguard the role of parents but also help educators, health care providers and other professionals navigate their responsibilities with confidence ultimately benefiting everyone in Minnesota.”

The bill lists 12 parental rights, including but not limited to:

• directing the child’s education;
• accessing, reviewing and overseeing the privacy of the child’s school records;
• directing the child’s upbringing;
• directing the child’s moral and religious training;
• having informed consent when making health care decisions for the child;
• accessing and reviewing the child’s medical records and physical samples;
• consenting in writing to any physical or mental health examinations of the child in advance, unless in a life-threatening emergency;
• consenting in writing to any medical interventions for the child in advance, unless in a life-threatening emergency;
• consenting in writing to any biometric scan of the child in advance;
• consenting in writing before any record of the child's blood or DNA is made, shared, or stored, unless required by law or pursuant to a court order;
• consenting in writing before the state or any political subdivision makes a voice or video recording of the child, unless for one of the listed exceptions or purposes; and
• being promptly notified if any governmental entity or institution suspects that a criminal offense has been committed against the minor by someone other than a parent.

The bill also states that any attempt to encourage or coerce a child to withhold information or discriminate against a parent for exercising the rights is grounds for employee discipline.

It also specifies this does not permit abuse or neglect by a parent, or any decision that would end a child’s life. It also does not prevent courts, law enforcement, or other government agencies from acting within the scope of their authority.