HB 542: Parental Rights Hijacked --> Kill the Bill

In violation of House rules, allowing the prime sponsor of a bill to be heard prior to action by a Committee of Conference, Chairman Balboni refused to allow Rep. Hoell to be heard on HB 542 as it was hijacked and completely replaced by a Senate amendment,  reversing the intent of the bill.  

House rule #49 (h)  The prime sponsor of any bill or resolution referred to committee of conference shall, upon request, be granted a hearing before said committee prior to action on the bill or resolution.

The Senate’s amendment tramples the right of parents to determine and direct the education of their child.  Supporters argue that this new language protects “local control” while requiring that parents seek district approval and meet State adequacy requirements.  There’s little concern that districts may censor the parent’s alternative materials, especially in such controversial situations.

Senate amendment agreed upon by the Committee of Conference:

RSA 186:11 by inserting after paragraph IX-b the following new paragraph:

            IX-c.  Require school districts to adopt a policy allowing an exception to specific course material based on a parent’s or legal guardian’s determination that the material is objectionable. Such policy shall include a provision requiring the parent or legal guardian to notify the school principal or designee in writing of the specific material to which they object and a provision requiring an alternative agreed upon by the school district and the parent, at the parent’s expense, sufficient to enable the child to meet state requirements for education in the particular subject area.  The name of the parent or legal guardian and any specific reasons disclosed to school officials for the objection to the material shall not be public information and shall be excluded from access under RSA 91-A.

HB 542 as passed by the House:

Amend RSA 193:1 by inserting after paragraph IV the following new paragraph:

            V. No school district shall compel a parent to send his or her child to any school or program to which he or she may be conscientiously opposed nor shall a school district approve or disapprove a parent’s education program or curriculum.

Instead of recognizing the parent’s Constitutional right to opt-out of public school programs to which the parent may be conscientiously opposed, now HB 542 requires the district to adopt a policy allowing an exception to specific course “materials,” requiring the parent make a written request seeking district approval for his alternative “materials.”

Instead of guaranteeing the parent’s political independence from the district by prohibiting the district from approving or disapproving the parent’s replacement program in keeping with RSA 186:11, suddenly the parent must meet state adequacy requirements for his alternative “materials.”

Given that these “materials” are provided at the parent’s expense, this is a disturbing precedent, requiring district approval for a non-public program or “materials.”  Instead of empowering parents, this bill burdens parents.  HB 542 must be killed.