Bill > SB948

This bill establishes a comprehensive set of parental rights that protect parents' fundamental liberty to direct their children's upbringing, education, health care, and mental health without government interference. The legislation defines parents as natural, adoptive, or legally authorized guardians of children under 18 years old, and stipulates that any governmental restriction on these parental rights must meet a high legal standard: the government must demonstrate that such a restriction is essential to further a compelling governmental interest and is the least restrictive means of doing so. The bill outlines specific parental rights, including choosing educational settings, accessing educational and medical records, making health care decisions, consenting to biometric scans and recordings, receiving notifications about potential child safety issues, and participating in school organizations. The law provides parents with the ability to assert these rights in judicial or administrative proceedings and seek relief, including declaratory and injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and attorney's fees. Importantly, the bill includes safeguards to prevent abuse, explicitly stating that it does not allow physical injury, illegal weapon possession, failure to provide child support, or neglect of critical health care. The legislation applies to all state and local laws, whether adopted before or after its effective date, and aims to comprehensively protect parental decision-making autonomy.

Education

https://www.senate.mo.gov/26info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=483