| From the HSLDA E-lert Service: |
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| Date: From: Subject: | 4/19/2005 4:03:24 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Texas--Calls Needed Now to Stop a Bill that Endangers Parental Rights |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== April 19, 2005 Texas--Calls Needed Now to Stop a Bill that Endangers Parental Rights Dear HSLDA members and friends: Introduced by Senator Nelson, Senate Bill 6 makes changes to the child welfare code of Texas. Upon reviewing the very lengthy bill, we have discovered that this bill harms parental rights. First, S.B. 6 makes it a criminal offense for any person to interfere in a departmental investigation. If that person takes, retains, or conceals the child, and the action is interpreted as interfering with the investigation, they can be found guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. We are concerned that if a parent simply stands on their Fourth Amendment rights and refuses a social worker entry to their home to investigate, that action could be prosecuted criminally. This would violate the constitutional rights of families. Furthermore, there is a very real possibility that HSLDA attorneys could be charged with a misdemeanor for counseling families to not allow their children to be interviewed alone by social workers. Secondly, this bill would open the door for unannounced visits and monitoring by social workers of families with adopted children. Under the law, children who are adopted become that family's child. The same Fourth Amendment and parental rights apply to those families with adopted children. This bill would allow for monitoring and visitation of families with adopted children by social workers. Although HSLDA Legislative Council approached Nelson's office to remove or to amend these two onerous provisions, it was to no avail. The bill was put on a fast track through the Senate. Now there are only two possible ways to stop this bill from becoming law: First, call your House member since the bill is scheduled to be voted on the floor either today or tomorrow. Then, secondly, if it passes the House, we will need to contact Governor Perry. In order to protect your parental rights in Texas, please call your state representative immediately. We have reviewed and strongly support Representative Dutton's child welfare reform bill, House Bill 1014. This bill has many common sense reforms and will better protect innocent parents in any child welfare investigations. ACTION REQUESTED Please call your state representative, as well as Senator Nelson, the sponsor of S.B. 6 and give them this message: "Please vote against Senate Bill 6, in its present form, because it fails to protect the parental and Fourth Amendment rights of families. Instead vote for Representative Dutton's bill: HB 1014." You can find information on your representative by using our Legislative Toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox/ or call the House Clerk's office at (512) 463-0845 and ask for your representative. Thank you for taking a moment to make these calls. Sincerely, Christopher J. Klicka HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> Who's knocking on your door? When a social service worker arrives at your door, tension can run high. Wouldn't it be nice to get your lawyer on the phone, providing you with immediate step-by-step guidance? More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1099 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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If this is an invalid email address or you have other problems, please reply to webmaster@hslda.org. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: This is considered a private and confidential message from HSLDA to its bonafide HSLDA E-lert Service subscribers. HSLDA cannot attest to the authenticity of copies posted, forwarded, or sent by any party other than HSLDA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Please do not reply or otherwise use this email address; hslda@hslda.org is for broadcast purposes only and is not intended to receive incoming messages. We cannot reply to any email sent to this address. If you have comments or questions, please send email to info@hslda.org or call HSLDA at 540-338-5600. HSLDA members can also email staff directly through the Members website at http://members.hslda.org/contact.asp. 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