By Charles Young, The Exponent Telegram
CHARLESTON (WV News) — A West Virginia House of Delegates committee advanced a bill Wednesday that could establish a parental bill of rights in the state.
The Judiciary Committee voted to report a committee substitute for House Bill 2129 to the House floor with a recommendation for passage, despite objections from one of the committee members.
The legislation states that parents have a “fundamental right” to direct their child’s “upbringing, education and care, including medical care.” The bill would prohibit the state government and its agencies and officials from infringing on these parental rights and could be used as a defense by a parent before “any court or administrative tribunal.”
The committee substitute contains a non-exhaustive list of parental rights, including:
- The right to direct the education and care of his or her minor child.
- The right to direct the upbringing and the moral or religious training of his or her minor child.
- The right to apply to enroll his or her minor child in a public school or, as an alternative to public education, a private school, including a religious school, a home education program or other available options, as authorized by law.
- The right to access and review all school records relating to his or her minor child.
- The right to make health care decisions for his or her minor child, unless otherwise prohibited by law.
