By Paul Waldmiller
Did you know that Florida parents have always relied on their Natural Rights to protect themselves and their children from overreaching Government and school board/teachers who wish to influence their children from unhealthy, or unwise practices or ideologies?
With the rise of teachers and school boards across Florida taking what some consider to be unprecedented steps to usurp parental rights, there are now several Florida bills being introduced to aide parents in their quest to guarantee (under Florida Statute) the right to determine their children’s moral beliefs/behavior.
The first bill is in the Florida House bill–HB 1059–that attempts to create a parental bill of rights. This proposed bill just passed in the Florida House Education Committee and includes language that the government would not be allowed to limit any parent’s ability, right to direct or determine the moral and or religious upbringing, education, health care or mental health of his or her children.
The bill apparently empowers Florida parents to make decisions specific for their children while simultaneously holding parents equally responsible for their children’s mental and physical health. According to the bill’s additional language, extra provisions and protections for parents has been added guaranteeing parents’ due process, putting the burden of proof regarding any alleged unlawful behavior regarding their children upon the state/courts.
Lastly, two separate parental right’s bills regarding abortions–one in the Florida House, HB 265 and other in the Senate, SB 404, would require teenage girls to acquire parental approval before getting an abortion. These bills prevent individuals including teachers and nurses or school administrators from subverting parental authority and forcing a girl to have an abortion. The bill however does incorporate language for a “judicial bypass” where a Florida judge may override parental authority or a minor child could petition the courts for an abortion (with the help of a taxpayer-paid attorney) for the right to have an abortion or without parental notification and or approval.