LRB-4437/1
EHS:amn&cjs
2023 - 2024 LEGISLATURE
October 16, 2023 - Introduced by Senators Wanggaard, Quinn,
Marklein and
Nass, cosponsored by Representatives
Wittke, Gundrum, Maxey, Nedweski,
Schmidt, Binsfeld, Rettinger, Allen, Magnafici, Steffen, Brooks,
Armstrong, Callahan, O'Connor, Goeben, Bodden, Sapik, Tittl, Michalski,
Schutt, Penterman, Dittrich, Murphy, Green, Behnke, Mursau, Brandtjen,
Wichgers, VanderMeer and Edming. Referred to Committee on Education.
SB489,1,2
1An Act to create 48.9865 of the statutes;
relating to: rights reserved to a parent
2or guardian of a child.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill establishes a legal standard for state infringement on fundamental
rights of parents and guardians, explicitly establishes a number of parental and
guardian rights relating to a child's religion, medical care and records, and
education, and creates a cause of action for the violation of these rights.
The bill prohibits the state from infringing on the fundamental right of parents
to direct the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their children
without demonstrating that the infringement is required by a compelling
governmental interest of the highest order as applied to the child, is narrowly
tailored, and is not otherwise served by a less restrictive means.
The bill reserves all of the following rights to the parent of a child without
interference from the state or other government entity:
1. The right to determine the religion of the child.
2. The right to determine the type of school or educational setting the child
attends.
3. The right to be notified of each health care service, including vaccinations
or immunizations, offered at the child's school and the right to withhold consent or
decline any specific service, unless otherwise specified by law or court order.
4. The right to review all medical records related to the child, unless otherwise
specified by law or court order.
5. The right to determine the names and pronouns used for the child while at
school.
6. The right to review instructional materials and outlines used by the child's
school, to the extent required by federal law.
7. The right to access records regarding the education of the child that are
generated, maintained, or used by the child's school, to the extent required by federal
law.
8. The right to timely notice by the child's school of any surveys or evaluations
conducted in the child's classroom that would reveal information concerning any of
the following about the child or his or her parent or family members: political
affiliations or beliefs; mental or psychological problems; sexual behavior or attitudes;
illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior; critical appraisals of
individuals with whom the child or parent has a close family relationship;
relationships that are legally recognized as privileged, such as those with lawyers,
physicians, and ministers; religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs; or income,
unless otherwise specified by law.
9. The right to timely notice by the child's school, through a process consistent
with school policy, of when a controversial subject will be taught or discussed in the
child's classroom. The bill defines “controversial subject” as a subject of substantial
public debate, disagreement, or disapproval and specifies that the term includes
instruction about gender identity, sexual orientation, racial identity, structural,
systemic, or institutional racism, or content that is not age-appropriate.
10. The right to opt out of a class or instructional materials at the child's school
for reasons based on either religion or personal conviction.
11. The right to visit the child at school during school hours, consistent with
school policy, unless otherwise specified by law or court order.
12. The right to engage with locally elected school board members of the school
district in which the child is a student in accordance with school district policy,
including by participating at regularly scheduled school board meetings.
13. The right to be notified of the creation of or updates to a security or
surveillance system at the child's school, not including routine maintenance.
14. The right to be informed by the child's school, in accordance with school
policy, of any disciplinary action taken against the child. This includes suspension,
expulsion, seclusion, physical restraint, or removal from class.
15. The right to be timely informed of any acts of violence or crimes occurring
on grounds of the child's school.
16. The right to receive accurate and individual information from the child's
school at least two times per year regarding the academic proficiency and classroom
behavior of the child.
The bill also provides that a guardian has all of the rights listed in the bill,
unless they are limited by law or court order.
The bill provides that this list does not comprehensively prescribe all
inalienable parental rights, and that a child's guardian may have rights that are
more comprehensive than those listed.
The bill requires a school board to adopt a policy setting forth a process by which
a parent or guardian of a pupil enrolled in the school district may file a written
complaint alleging that a right identified in the bill was violated. Under the bill, this
policy must require the school board to hold a public hearing to address any such
written complaints at least once every three months. The bill also requires that the
process be timely, that it grant the school board the final decision, and that it allow
a clear process to appeal that decision.
The bill also allows a parent or guardian who is denied one of the rights
identified in the bill to bring a civil action against a governmental body or official.
The bill allows a parent or guardian to raise a violation of these rights in court or
before an administrative tribunal of appropriate jurisdiction as a claim or defense.
Under the bill, a parent or guardian that successfully asserts such a claim may
recover declaratory relief, injunctive relief, reasonable attorney's fees and costs, and
up to $10,000 for any other appropriate relief.
The bill provides that nothing in the bill authorizes a parent or guardian to
abuse or neglect a child in violation of state law and that it may not be construed to
apply to a parent's or guardian's action or decision that would end life. The bill also
provides that nothing in the bill prohibits a court from issuing an order that is
otherwise permitted by law and that it may not be construed to supersede a court
order.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB489,1
1Section
1. 48.9865 of the statutes is created to read:
SB489,3,2
248.9865 Rights reserved to parents.
(1) In this section:
SB489,3,63
(a) “Controversial subject” means a subject of substantial public debate,
4disagreement, or disapproval and includes instruction about gender identity, sexual
5orientation, racial identity, structural, systemic, or institutional racism, or content
6that is not age-appropriate, as defined in s. 118.019 (1m) (a).
SB489,3,77
(b) “School board” has the meaning given in s. 115.001 (7).
SB489,3,108
(c) “Timely notice” means written notice provided to a parent or guardian
9through a process consistent with school policy such that the parent or guardian may
10effectively exercise the rights set forth under this section.
SB489,4,4
11(2) This state may not infringe on the fundamental right of parents to direct
12the upbringing, education, health care, and mental health of their children without
13demonstrating that the infringement is required by a compelling governmental
1interest of the highest order as applied to the child, is narrowly tailored, and is not
2otherwise served by a less restrictive means. The rights enumerated in this section
3are in addition to rights granted to parents under the constitutions of this state and
4of the United States.
SB489,4,6
5(3) All of the following rights are reserved to the parent of a child without
6interference from the state or other government entity:
SB489,4,77
(a) The right to determine the religion of the child.
SB489,4,98
(b) The right to determine the type of school or educational setting the child
9attends.
SB489,4,1210
(c) The right to be notified of each health care service, including vaccinations
11or immunizations, offered at the child's school and the right to withhold consent or
12decline any specific service, unless otherwise specified by law or court order.
SB489,4,1413
(d) The right to review all medical records related to the child, unless otherwise
14specified by law or court order.
SB489,4,1615
(e)
The right to determine the names and pronouns used for the child while at
16school.
SB489,4,1817
(f) The right to review instructional materials and outlines used by the child's
18school, to the extent required by federal law.
SB489,4,2119
(g) The right to access records regarding the education of the child that are
20generated, maintained, or used by the child's school, to the extent required by federal
21law.
SB489,4,2422
(h) The right to timely notice by the child's school of any surveys or evaluations
23conducted in the child's classroom that would reveal information concerning any of
24the following about the child or his or her parent or family members:
SB489,4,2525
1. Political affiliations or beliefs.
SB489,5,1
12. Mental or psychological problems.
SB489,5,22
3. Sexual behavior or attitudes.
SB489,5,33
4. Illegal, antisocial, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior.
SB489,5,54
5. Critical appraisals of individuals with whom the child or parent has a close
5family relationship.
SB489,5,76
6. Relationships that are legally recognized as privileged, such as those with
7lawyers, physicians, and ministers.
SB489,5,88
7. Religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs.
SB489,5,99
8. Income, unless otherwise specified by law.
SB489,5,1210
(i) The right to timely notice by the child's school, through a process consistent
11with school policy, of when a controversial subject will be taught or discussed in the
12child's classroom.
SB489,5,1413
(j) The right to opt out of a class or instructional materials at the child's school
14for reasons based on either religion or personal conviction.
SB489,5,1615
(k) The right to visit the child at school during school hours, consistent with
16school policy, unless otherwise specified by law or court order.