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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | November 15, 2021 11:49 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Doug Mastriano |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Establishing a Parental Bill of Rights |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to enumerate the rights of parents and legal guardians to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their child. Presently, Pennsylvania does not have a state statute that explicitly defines and protects parental rights as fundamental rights. 12 other states currently recognize these rights. My legislation will make it clear in statute that the Commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions may not infringe on the fundamental rights of a parent to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of his or her minor child without demonstrating that such action is reasonable and necessary to achieve a compelling state interest, narrowly tailored, and not otherwise served by a less restrictive means. The legislation will also codify a parent’s right to access and review all school records related to their child, a right to review all instructional materials used throughout the school year, and the right to opt out their child from certain curriculum that the parent finds to be objectionable or harmful. Establishing a parental bill of rights will ensure that the rights of parents in our Commonwealth are not swept aside by an overbearing bureaucracy. Please consider co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as SB996