The Traditional Values Coalition, which can at times be a little, well, shall we say, strident in their social conservatism rhetoric nonetheless has some interesting coverage of pending bills in the California legislature. Here's two noteworthy ones involving parental consent:
AB 1925 (by Assemblyman Ray Haynes-- R):AB 1925 is a bill directly sponsored by Traditional Values Coalition. This bill is a result of our last sponsored bill from last session, AB 950.
AB 1925 would require that schools first notify and get parental permission prior to guest speakers or organizations addressing students on HIV/AIDS education.
You may recall that Senate Bill 71 was signed into law and took effect January 1, 2004 and it removed from law four parental rights provisions regarding schools and education. Our first attempt to restore those provisions back into law was through AB 950, which was killed by the Assembly Education Committee back on January 7th. AB 1925 seeks to restore the one deleted provision we mentioned above.
Currently, schools are only required to notify parents about sex Ed teachings and curriculum once at the beginning of the school year. Parents can then choose to remove their child from such teachings if they wish, but it is the duty of the parent to put that request in writing. The burden is on the parents to pro-actively review the schools sex-ed curriculum and voluntarily remove their children from questionable teachings.
But while the curriculum must be set in stone at the beginning of the year for parents to review should they wish, the issue involving a guest speaker or outside organization coming into the classroom to talk about HIV/AIDS and sexual issues is left unresolved now.
Schools no longer have to notify parents about who comes into the classroom to give lectures, show films or talk about sexual issues. AB 1925 seeks to force schools to give parents fair notice before speakers and organizations address their child in the classroom.
AB 1925 is currently in the Assembly Education Committee and may be heard on March 31st.
SB 1221 (by Senator Bill Morrow--R):
SB 1221 is another well-deserved, common sense bill aimed at restoring parental consent in the schools.
Currently, schools are allowed to remove a child from school to seek and obtain confidential medical services and counseling without parental knowledge. The only notification the schools are required by law to give is the simple statement at the beginning of the year that their child can be removed for medical services if the child requests it. There no is right for parents to object or even be informed of their child's actions.
TVC's good friend, Senator Bill Morrow of Oceanside, is seeking to reverse this absurd trampling of parental discretion.
SB 1221 would require schools to "attempt to notify the pupil's parent or guardian of the absence."
Senator Morrow's bill is yet another attempt to restore into law common sense parental rights provisions that have been eroded over time by the liberal legislature.
SB 1221 is currently assigned to the Senate Education Committee, however no hearing date has been set.
The page for this and several other bills has comprehensive links for contacting the various legislators and committees.
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