Text of MT SB 518 (2023)

**** 68th Legislature 2023 SB 518.1 - 1 - Authorized Print Version – SB 518 SENATE BILL NO. 518 1 INTRODUCED BY T. MANZELLA, C. HINKLE, B. BROWN, J. FULLER, K. REGIER, S. HINEBAUCH, B. 2 USHER, M. NOLAND, D. LENZ, G. HERTZ, C. GLIMM, B. PHALEN, B. BEARD, S. VANCE, F. MANDEVILLE 3 4 A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: “AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LAWS INVOLVING PARENTAL RIGHTS; 5 PROVIDING FOR PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION; PROVIDING THAT PARENTS MAY 6 WITHDRAW THEIR CHILD FROM CERTAIN SCHOOL INSTRUCTION, INCLUDING FOR RELIGIOUS 7 PURPOSES; ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES; PROVIDING 8 THAT, WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, EMPLOYEES OF GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES ARE PROHIBITED 9 FROM WITHHOLDING CERTAIN INFORMATION FROM PARENTS; PROVIDING REMEDIES FOR 10 VIOLATIONS; INCREASING A FILING FEE; PROVIDING DEFINITIONS; AMENDING SECTIONS 20-5-103, 11 25-1-202, AND 40-6-701, MCA; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.” 12 13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: 14 15 NEW SECTION. Section 1. Parental involvement in education. (1) The board of trustees of a 16 school district, in consultation with parents, teachers, and administrators, shall develop and adopt a policy to 17 promote the involvement of parents of children enrolled in the school district, including: 18 (a) a plan for parent participation in the school district, which must be designed to improve parent 19 and teacher cooperation in homework, attendance, and discipline; 20 (b) procedures by which a parent may learn about the course of study for the parent's child; 21 (c) procedures by which a parent may withdraw the parent's child from instruction or presentations, 22 assemblies, guest lectures, or other educational events facilitated by a school's faculty or staff, including those 23 conducted by outside individuals or organizations, that offend the parent's beliefs or practices; 24 (d) procedures by which a parent may learn about the nature and purpose of clubs and 25 extracurricular activities that have been approved by the school or that the school is required to allow under the 26 provisions of the federal Equal Access Act of 1984 and may withdraw the parent's child from any club or 27 extracurricular activity. A student shall provide a signed parental permission form prior to participating in any 28 **** 68th Legislature 2023 SB 518.1 - 2 - Authorized Print Version – SB 518 school-sponsored club or extracurricular activity. 1 (e) procedures by which a parent shall provide written consent before the parent's child uses a 2 name or nickname other than the child's legal name or before the parent's child uses a pronoun that does not 3 align with the child's sex. If a parent provides written consent under this subsection (1)(e), a person may not be 4 compelled to use pronouns that do not align with the child's sex. 5 (f) procedures by which a parent may learn about parental rights and responsibilities under the 6 laws of this state. 7 (2) The board of trustees of a school district may adopt a policy providing that parents may submit 8 and receive the information required by this section in electronic form. 9 10 NEW SECTION. Section 2. Construction. (1) Unless parental rights have been legally waived or 11 legally terminated, parents have inalienable rights that are more comprehensive than those described in 40-6- 12 701 or [section 1]. The protections afforded by 40-6-701 and [section 1] are in addition to the protections 13 provided under federal law, other state laws, the United States constitution, and the Montana constitution. 14 (2) Section 40-6-701 and [section 1] must be construed in favor of a broad protection of the 15 fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their child. 16 (3) Nothing in 40-6-701 or [section 1] may be construed to authorize a governmental entity to 17 burden the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of 18 their child. 19 (4) If a child has no affirmative right of access to a particular medical or mental health procedure or 20 service, then nothing in 40-6-701 or [section 1] may be construed to grant the child's parent an affirmative right 21 of access to the procedure or service on the child's behalf. 22 23 Section 3. Section 20-5-103, MCA, is amended to read: 24 "20-5-103. Compulsory attendance and excuses. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), any a 25 parent, guardian, or other person who is responsible for the care of any child who is 7 years of age or older 26 prior to the first day of school in any school fiscal year shall cause ensure the child to attend attends the school 27 in which the child is enrolled for the school term and each school day in the term prescribed by the trustees of 28 **** 68th Legislature 2023 SB 518.1 - 3 - Authorized Print Version – SB 518 the district until the later of the following dates: 1 (a) the child's 16th birthday; or 2 (b) the date of completion of the work of the the child completes 8th grade. 3 (2) The provisions of subsection (1) do not apply in the following cases: 4 (a) The child has been excused under one of the conditions specified in 20-5-102. 5 (b) The child is absent because of illness, bereavement, or other reason prescribed by the policies 6 of the trustees. 7 (c) The child has been suspended or expelled under the provisions of 20-5-202. 8 (d) The child is excused pursuant to 20-7-120. 9 (e) The child is excused pursuant to 40-6-701(2)(l) or [section 1(1)(c)]." 10 11 Section 4. Section 25-1-202, MCA, is amended to read: 12 "25-1-202. Additional filing fees. (1) In addition to other filing fees, the following fees must be paid to 13 the clerk of the district court at the time of filing a civil action in the district court: 14 (a) a fee of $20; and 15 (b) if the action is brought pursuant to 40-6-701, in addition to the fee required under subsection 16 (1)(a), a fee of $5 $6. 17 (2) The fees must be forwarded by the clerk to the department of revenue for deposit in the state 18 general fund. The prevailing party may have the amount paid by the prevailing party taxed in the bill of costs as 19 proper disbursements." 20 21 Section 5. Section 40-6-701, MCA, is amended to read: 22 "40-6-701. Interference with fundamental parental rights restricted -- cause of action. (1) A 23 governmental entity may not interfere with the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, 24 health care, and mental health of their children unless the governmental entity demonstrates that the 25 interference: 26 (a) furthers a compelling governmental interest; and 27 (b) is narrowly tailored and is the least restrictive means available for the furthering of the 28 **** 68th Legislature 2023 SB 518.1 - 4 - Authorized Print Version – SB 518 compelling governmental interest. 1 (2) Except as provided in subsection (1) of this section or for a child considered an emancipated 2 minor or for whom a specific right has been conferred under an order of limited emancipation pursuant to 41-5- 3 103, all fundamental parental rights are exclusively reserved to the parent of a child without obstruction or 4 interference by a governmental entity, including but not limited to the rights and responsibilities to do the 5 following: 6 (a) direct the education of the child, including the right to choose public, private, religious, or home 7 schools and the right to make reasonable choices within public schools for the education of the child; 8 (b) access and review all written and electronic educational records relating to the child that are 9 controlled by or in the possession of a school; 10 (c) direct the upbringing of the child; 11 (d) direct the moral or religious training of the child; 12 (e) make and consent in writing to all physical and mental health care decisions for the child, 13 except that emergency medical services may be provided to a child if necessary to prevent death or imminent, 14 irreparable physical injury or if, after a reasonably diligent effort, the parent cannot be contacted; 15 (f) access and review all health and medical records of the child; 16 (g) consent in writing before a biometric scan of the child is made, shared, or stored; 17 (h) consent in writing before any record of the child's blood or DNA is created, stored, or shared, 18 unless authorized pursuant to a court order; 19 (i) consent in writing before a governmental entity makes an audio or video recording of the child, 20 unless the audio or video recording is made during or as part of: 21 (i) a court proceeding; 22 (ii) a law enforcement investigation; 23 (iii) a forensic interview in a criminal or child abuse and neglect investigation; 24 (iv) the security or surveillance of school buildings, grounds, or transportation; or 25 (v) a photo identification card; 26 (j) be notified promptly if an employee of a governmental entity suspects that abuse or neglect or 27 any criminal offense has been committed against the child, unless the incident has first been reported to law 28 **** 68th Legislature 2023 SB 518.1 - 5 - Authorized Print Version – SB 518 enforcement or the department of public health and human services pursuant to 41-3-201 and notifying the 1 parent would impede an investigation; 2 (k) opt the child out of any personal analysis, evaluation, survey, or data collected by a school 3 district that would capture data for inclusion in the state longitudinal student data system, except what is 4 necessary and essential for establishing a student's educational record; 5 (l) have the child excused from school attendance for religious purposes or under [section 1(1)(c)]; 6 and 7 (m) participate in parent-teacher associations and school organizations that are sanctioned by the 8 board of trustees of a school district. 9 (3) Except for law enforcement or a person making a mandatory report under 41-3-201, an 10 employee of a governmental entity may not encourage or coerce a child to withhold information from the child's 11 parent and may not withhold from a child's parent information that is relevant to the physical, emotional, or 12 mental health of the child. 13 (2)(4) This section may not be construed as invalidating the provisions of Title 41, chapter 3, or 14 modifying the burden of proof at any stage of the proceedings under Title 41, chapter 3. 15 (3)(5) When (a) Except as provided in subsection (5)(b), when a parent's fundamental rights 16 protected by this section are violated, a parent may assert that violation as a claim or defense in a judicial 17 proceeding and may obtain appropriate relief against the governmental entity without regard to whether the 18 proceeding is brought by or in the name of the governmental entity, a private person, or any other party. The 19 prevailing party in an action filed pursuant to this section is entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs. 20 (b) When a parent's fundamental rights protected by [section 1] or this section are violated in the 21 context of a public school, prior to seeking relief in a judicial proceeding, a parent may assert that violation and 22 may obtain appropriate relief through: 23 (i) the school district's grievance policy and an appeal of a subsequent decision of the trustees 24 pursuant to 20-3-210; or 25 (ii) if the violation is due to the action or inaction of an individual with a teacher, administrator, or 26 specialist certificate, filing a complaint with the superintendent of public instruction and requesting the initiation 27 of proceedings under 20-4-110 for the issuance of a letter of reprimand or suspension or revocation of the 28 **** 68th Legislature 2023 SB 518.1 - 6 - Authorized Print Version – SB 518 individual's certificate. 1 (4)(6) As used in this section, the following definitions apply: 2 (a) "Educational record" means attendance records, test scores of school-administered tests and 3 statewide assessments, grades, extracurricular activity or club participation, e-mail accounts, online or virtual 4 accounts or data, disciplinary records, counseling records, psychological records, applications for admission, 5 teacher and counselor evaluations, reports of behavioral patterns, and health and immunization information, 6 including any medical records maintained by a health clinic or medical facility operated or controlled by the 7 school district or located on district property. 8 (b) "governmental Governmental entity" has the meaning provided in 2-9-101." 9 10 NEW SECTION. Section 6. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 and 2] are intended to be codified 11 as an integral part of Title 40, chapter 6, part 7, and the provisions of Title 40, chapter 6, part 7, apply to 12 [sections 1 and 2]. 13 14 NEW SECTION. Section 7. Effective date. [This act] is effective July 1, 2023. 15 - END - 16

- 2023 68th Legislature 2023 SB0518 - 1 - Authorized Print Version – SB 518 ENROLLED BILL AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LAWS INVOLVING PARENTAL RIGHTS; PROVIDING FOR PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION; PROVIDING THAT PARENTS MAY WITHDRAW THEIR CHILD FROM CERTAIN SCHOOL INSTRUCTION, INCLUDING FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES; REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO PARENTS ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN OF THE DISTRICT; ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES; PROVIDING THAT, WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, EMPLOYEES OF GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES ARE PROHIBITED FROM WITHHOLDING CERTAIN INFORMATION FROM PARENTS; INCREASING A FILING FEE; AMENDING SECTIONS 20-5-103 AND 25-1-202, MCA; AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATES. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA: Section 1. Parental involvement in education. (1) The board of trustees of a school district, in consultation with parents, teachers, and administrators, shall develop and adopt a policy to promote the involvement of parents of children enrolled in the school district, including: (a) a plan for parent participation in the school district, which must be designed to improve parent and teacher cooperation in homework, attendance, and discipline; (b) a plan to provide parents with information about how to participate in the governance of the school district through the locally elected board of trustees; (c) procedures by which a parent may learn about the course of study for the parent's child; (d) procedures by which a parent may withdraw the parent's child from instruction or presentations, assemblies, guest lectures, or other educational events facilitated by a school's faculty or staff, including those conducted by outside individuals or organizations, that offend the parent's beliefs or practices; (e) procedures by which a parent may learn about the nature and purpose of clubs and - 2023 68th Legislature 2023 SB0518 - 2 - Authorized Print Version – SB 518 ENROLLED BILL extracurricular activities that have been approved by the school or that the school is required to allow under the provisions of the federal Equal Access Act of 1984 and may withdraw the parent's child from any club or extracurricular activity. A student shall provide a signed parental permission form prior to participating in any school-sponsored club or extracurricular activity. (f) procedures by which a parent shall provide written consent before the parent's child uses a pronoun that does not align with the child's sex. If a parent provides written consent under this subsection (1)(f), a person may not be compelled to use pronouns that do not align with the child's sex. (g) procedures by which a parent may learn about parental rights and responsibilities under the laws of this state. (2) The board of trustees of a school district may adopt a policy providing that parents may submit and receive the information required by this section in electronic form. Section 2. Construction. (1) Unless parental rights have been legally waived or legally terminated, parents have inalienable rights that are more comprehensive than those described in 40-6-701 or [section 1]. The protections afforded by 40-6-701 and [section 1] are in addition to the protections provided under federal law, other state laws, the United States constitution, and the Montana constitution. (2) Section 40-6-701 and [section 1] must be construed in favor of a broad protection of the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their child. (3) Nothing in 40-6-701 or [section 1] may be construed to authorize a governmental entity to burden the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their child. (4) If a child has no affirmative right of access to a particular medical or mental health procedure or service, then nothing in 40-6-701 or [section 1] may be construed to grant the child's parent an affirmative right of access to the procedure or service on the child's behalf. Section 3. Information on educational opportunities -- duties of trustees. (1) The board of trustees of a school district shall develop, update, and annually provide to students and families of the district information on the educational opportunities available through the schools of the district. The information must - 2023 68th Legislature 2023 SB0518 - 3 - Authorized Print Version – SB 518 ENROLLED BILL align to the legislative intent of preserving and protecting the right to access personalized learning as set forth in 20-7-1601 and must be designed to empower families in understanding the options available to them in partnering with schools to develop their child's full educational potential. A school board may satisfy its obligation through the use of model resources developed by an organization of school boards of which the school board is a member. (2) The information provided under subsection (1) must include, at a minimum, the following educational and extracurricular opportunities: (a) evaluation and identification of children with disabilities and special education programs beginning at age 3 pursuant to 20-7-411; (b) admission to a school of a district beginning at age 5 pursuant to 20-5-101, and the option to enroll a child in a half-time kindergarten program pursuant to 20-7-117; (c) proficiency-based learning and other forms of personalized learning pursuant to 20-7-1601, including options for obtaining course equivalency and course waiver determinations from the board of trustees pursuant to 20-3-324(18); (d) participation in extracurricular activities, including participation by nonpublic and home school students pursuant to 20-5-112; (e) access to remote instruction, including through the Montana digital academy pursuant to Title 20, chapter 7, part 12, and through other school districts as provided in 20-7-118; (f) out-of-district attendance pursuant to Title 20, chapter 5, part 3; (g) availability of funding to support student access to advanced opportunities, if applicable to a district pursuant to 20-7-1506; (h) career and technical education pursuant to Title 20, chapter 7, part 3, including the attainment of industry-recognized credentials and work-based learning, pursuant to 20-7-1510; (i) early college, dual enrollment, and running start opportunities, pursuant to 20-9-706; and (j) other opportunities for school-age children through Montana public schools that: (i) support the development of a child's full educational potential; (ii) assist in reducing the costs of postsecondary education and workforce preparation; and (iii) foster life success. - 2023 68th Legislature 2023 SB0518 - 4 - Authorized Print Version – SB 518 ENROLLED BILL (3) The legislature intends that boards of trustees and organizations of boards of trustees communicate and collaborate with the education interim committee to demonstrate the implementation of the requirements of this section and to identify additional opportunities following legislative sessions. Section 4. Section 20-5-103, MCA, is amended to read: "20-5-103. Compulsory attendance and excuses. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), any a parent, guardian, or other person who is responsible for the care of any child who is 7 years of age or older prior to the first day of school in any school fiscal year shall cause ensure the child to attend attends the school in which the child is enrolled for the school term and each school day in the term prescribed by the trustees of the district until the later of the following dates: (a) the child's 16th birthday; or (b) the date of completion of the work of the the child completes 8th grade. (2) The provisions of subsection (1) do not apply in the following cases: (a) The child has been excused under one of the conditions specified in 20-5-102. (b) The child is absent because of illness, bereavement, or other reason prescribed by the policies of the trustees. (c) The child has been suspended or expelled under the provisions of 20-5-202. (d) The child is excused pursuant to 20-7-120. (e) The child is excused pursuant to 40-6-701(1) or [section 1(1)(d)]." Section 5. Section 25-1-202, MCA, is amended to read: "25-1-202. Additional filing fees. (1) In addition to other filing fees, the following fees must be paid to the clerk of the district court at the time of filing a civil action in the district court: (a) a fee of $20; and (b) if the action is brought pursuant to 40-6-701, in addition to the fee required under subsection (1)(a), a fee of $5 $6. (2) The fees must be forwarded by the clerk to the department of revenue for deposit in the state general fund. The prevailing party may have the amount paid by the prevailing party taxed in the bill of costs as - 2023 68th Legislature 2023 SB0518 - 5 - Authorized Print Version – SB 518 ENROLLED BILL proper disbursements." Section 6. Codification instruction. (1) [Sections 1 and 2] are intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 40, chapter 6, part 7, and the provisions of Title 40, chapter 6, part 7, apply to [sections 1 and 2]. (2) [Section 3] is intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 20, chapter 3, part 3, and the provisions of Title 20, chapter 3, part 3, apply to [section 3]. Section 7. Coordination instruction. (1) If House Bill No. 352 is passed and approved, then [section 3(2) of this act] is amended to insert: "(b) early literacy targeted interventions pursuant to [sections 1 through 4 of House Bill No. 352];" (2) If House Bill No. 396 is passed and approved, then [section 3(2) of this act] is amended to insert: "(c) part-time enrollment of a student who is otherwise enrolled at a nonpublic or home school pursuant to 20-5-101;" Section 8. Effective dates. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), [this act] is effective on passage and approval. (2) [Sections 1 through 6] are effective July 1, 2023. - END - I hereby certify that the within bill, SB 518, originated in the Senate. ___________________________________________ Secretary of the Senate ___________________________________________ President of the Senate Signed this _______________________________day of____________________________________, 2023. ___________________________________________ Speaker of the House Signed this _______________________________day of____________________________________, 2023. SENATE BILL NO. 518 INTRODUCED BY T. MANZELLA, K. REGIER, C. GLIMM, G. HERTZ, D. LENZ, B. BROWN, F. MANDEVILLE, M. NOLAND, S. HINEBAUCH, B. USHER, B. BEARD, J. FULLER, B. PHALEN, C. HINKLE, S. VANCE AN ACT GENERALLY REVISING LAWS INVOLVING PARENTAL RIGHTS; PROVIDING FOR PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN EDUCATION; PROVIDING THAT PARENTS MAY WITHDRAW THEIR CHILD FROM CERTAIN SCHOOL INSTRUCTION, INCLUDING FOR RELIGIOUS PURPOSES; REQUIRING SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION TO PARENTS ABOUT THE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE TO CHILDREN OF THE DISTRICT; ESTABLISHING ADDITIONAL PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES; PROVIDING THAT, WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, EMPLOYEES OF GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES ARE PROHIBITED FROM WITHHOLDING CERTAIN INFORMATION FROM PARENTS; INCREASING A FILING FEE; AMENDING SECTIONS 20-5-103 AND 25-1-202, MCA; AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DATES.