Seeks to ensure that the state does not take control away from parents
STATE HOUSE– Rep. Jennifer Poirier (R-Skowhegan) has introduced a bill to ensure that parents have control over the upbringing and education of their children. LD 1953 – RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Establish a Parental Bill of Rights” will have a Public Hearing tomorrow, May 24, at 10:00 a.m. before the Judiciary Committee.
“This is about parents and their right to have control over the upbringing and education of their children,” said Rep. Poirier. “My bill is designed to give Maine voters the right to have a public discussion on the issue of whether or not parents or the state should have primacy in shaping the upbringing, development, and education of our children.”
This resolution proposes to amend the Constitution of Maine to provide that the State, any of its political subdivisions, including, but not limited to, a school board, school district or school administrative unit, or any other governmental entity may not infringe on the fundamental rights of a parent to direct the upbringing and education of that parent’s minor child without demonstrating that such action is reasonable and necessary to achieve a compelling state interest and that each action is narrowly tailored and cannot be achieved by less restrictive means.
It requires a school board, school district or school administrative unit, in consultation with parents, teachers and administrators, to develop and publicly adopt a policy to promote parental involvement in the public school system. A parent claiming a violation of these provisions may bring an action for declaratory relief, injunctive relief and money damages against the State, any of its political subdivisions, including, but not limited to, any school board, school district or school administrative unit, or any other governmental entity that the parent claims has violated these provisions.
What: Public Hearings on LD 1953 –“RESOLUTION, Proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of Maine to Establish a Parental Bill of Rights”
Where: Committee on Judiciary, State House, Room 438
When: Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at 10:00 AM
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