Parental rights and sport access "crossed over" (passed) last week and both are expected to be heard in committees in the opposite houses this week. It's critical that you let your legislators know your opinion on these bills!  

 

Parental rights may be heard as early as Wednesday afternoon, and we expect some committee members to attempt to amend the language. If your delegate is a member of the House Courts of Justice Committee, call now and ask him or her to vote 'yes' on SB 908 without any amendments.

 

HB 1442--the Sports Access bill--will be heard Thursday morning. It failed to be reported from this committee by one vote last year. If you support sports access, call your senator on the Senate Health and Education Committee before Thursday morning.

 

With regards,

Yvonne Bunn

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PARENTAL RIGHTS ACTION

Although both parental rights bills have passed the House and Senate, both have been amended. The language in SB 908 specifically protects your fundamental right to direct the education of your child. Although the bill passed the Senate with this language intact, we expect it to face a challenge in the House Courts of Justice Committee.

 

SB 908, the stronger bill, says, "A parent has a fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education, and care of the parent's child."

 

Last week, the House Courts of Justice Committee did not accept this language in the House version of parental rights, HB 1642. Now the companion version of parental rights, HB 1642, is weaker than the Senate version, SB 908.  

 

HB 1642, the weaker bill, now says, "A parent has a fundamental right to make decisions concerning the care, custody, and control of the parent's child."

 

Because it is important to specifically mention "educational rights," we are joining with Homeschool Legal Defense Association, the Family Foundation, and ParentalRights.org in asking you to call your delegate if he or she is a member of the House Courts of Justice Committee, and ask him or her to "Vote 'yes' on SB 908 without any amendments."

 

SB 908 will protect parental rights in Virginia as fundamental rights, not "ordinary" rights. A right that is not fundamental will allow the government or court to infringe on the right as long as it has a rational reason to do so.

 

If you're not sure who your delegate is, you can find your legislator's name here.

 

House Courts of Justice Committee Members:

Delegate David B. Albo  

(804) 698-1042

DelDAlbo@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1001
DelTKilgore@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1058
DelRBell@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1024
DelBCline@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1084
DelSIaquinto@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1015
DelTGilbert@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1050
DelJMiller@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1068
DelMLoupassi@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1021
 DelRVillanueva@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1008
DelGHabeeb@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1056
DelPFarrell@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1010
DelRMinchew@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1064
DelRMorris@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1004
DelJJohnson@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1039
DelVWatts@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1057
DelDToscano@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1046
DelCHerring@house.virginia.gov

 

(804) 698-1071
DelJMcClellan@house.virginia.gov

 

SPORTS ACCESS

HB 1442, access to interscholastic activities--also known as the "Tebow Bill"--passed the full House 56-Y, 43-N. It is now in the Senate and has been assigned to the Senate Education Committee. It failed to be reported from this committee by one vote last year.

 

It is expected to be on the Senate Health and Education Committee agenda this Thursday, February 14 at 8:00 a.m.

If you support homeschool access to public school activities (interscholastic sports, forensics, theater, speech, debate, publications, and other activities regulated by the Virginia High School League), call your senator on the Senate Health and Education Committee before Thursday morning. Committee members are listed here.

You may also attend the hearing or testify in Senate Room B. If you need more details, contact Delegate Rob Bell's office at (804) 698-1058.

 

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