HSLDA | Arizona Legislation 2006—Senate Bill 1527: Attack on Parental Right to Direct Child's Education

August 11, 2006

Senate Bill 1527: Attack on Parental Right to Direct Child's Education

Sponsor:
Senators Hale, Mitchell, Arzberger, Cannell, Cheuvront, J. Garcia, Soltero, and P. Rios.

Summary:
Your calls worked! Senate Bill 1527 was amended, and we no longer need you to contact your senators. The amended version of the bill simply allows a child who is at least 16 to enroll in a public school with the written consent of a parent.

Arizona parents were under unprecedented attack with the introduction of Senate Bill 1527. While this bill would have made only a small change to the law, it would have completely undermined parental authority to make educational decisions that are in the best interest of their children.

As originally worded, Senate Bill 1527 would have permitted any child who is at least 16 to enroll in public school without the consent of the their parent or guardian.

This bill was unparalleled in its erosion of parent authority and the denial of a parent's fundamental right to the care, custody, and control of their children. To our knowledge Arizona was the first state in the nation to contemplate this type of legislation.

Status:

02/15/2006		Committee report: do pass, amended
02/10/2006		Senate K-12 Education 2/15/2006 1:30 p.m. Senate Hearing Room 1
02/02/2006		Assigned To Rules Committee
02/02/2006		Assigned To K-12 Education Committee
02/02/2006		Second Read
01/31/2006		Senate First Read
01/30/2006		Filed

HSLDA's Position:
Neutral.

Action Requested:
None at this time.

Background:
Senate Bill 1527 clearly violates a parent's fundamental rights in the care, custody, and control of their minor children which has been guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. For a review of many of the important cases in this area please see our memo "Decisions of the United States Supreme Court Upholding Parental Rights as 'Fundamental.' "