Texas Legislation Update.....HSLDA

Here's the email we received from the HSLDA about recent Texas legislation... I am especially excited to see the Jury Duty one!

"The Texas Legislative Session adjourned on June 1. HSLDA focused a generous amount of time and effort into watching the legislature closely for any bills that would have negatively or positively
affected homeschool rights. Largely through the efforts of HSLDA Legislative Council, Tom Sanders, and HSLDA members, we are happy to report that many bad bills did not pass.

Tom Sanders worked tirelessly on our behalf going from office to office working to kill the bills that would have restricted our freedoms, including a Children's Bill of Rights bill, a daytime curfew
bill, and a mandatory kindergarten bill. In addition, he made sure the bill allowing homeschoolers an exemption from jury duty, passed.

A summary of the bills we worked on are below:

House Bill 319: Exemption from Jury Duty

This bill provides an exemption for homeschoolers from jury duty. HSLDA supported the bill and it passed!

House Bill 1886: Enforcement of Juvenile Curfew Ordinance

This bill would have authorized the sheriff of each county in which the municipality is located to enforce a juvenile curfew ordinance. HSLDA opposed this bill, and it did not pass!

House Bill 188: Rights for Children

This bill would have guaranteed certain rights for children and the education of parents regarding their duties as parents. The problem with the bill was in the vague language, which included giving
children the right to "quality education," and the "right to be free" from "any form of discipline that humiliates or demeans a child," which could be interpreted against homeschools or parents who spank
their children. HSLDA opposed this bill, and it did not pass!


Dallas City Daytime Curfew Ordinance

Despite our efforts, the curfew passed with a vote of 12-2. City officials have indicated that the curfew was scheduled to take effect May 18, but will not be enforced until the beginning of the 2009-2010
school year.

Thankfully, language was inserted at the last minute into the ordinance that will require the council to review the curfew by June 1, 2010. In addition, the curfew will be subject to council review
every three years.

Also, the latest version of the ordinance that passed on May 13 included several changes to lessen the severity of the ordinance by allowing for a few more defenses to prosecution, and requiring that a
police officer had to allow a business two warnings before the officer could ticket. The added defenses included in the ordinance were exemptions for medical appointments, work study, and school-sanctioned
functions.

House Bill 948: CPS Reform

This bill would have reformed CPS investigations by giving the parent more power through the investigation process. HSLDA supported this bill, but it died in committee.

Senate Bill 1064: Weakens Families' Rights During CPS Investigations

This bill would have authorized DFPS, without filing suit, to seek a court order in aid of investigation. Fortunately, this bill died in committee.

House Bill 316: Mandatory Kindergarten

This bill would have required mandatory attendance in kindergarten in the public schools. Fortunately, this bill died in committee.

House Resolution 1438: Requires Government Oversight on Homeschoolers

This resolution urged the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to implement in the state regulations a policy to require schools to use academic indicators to demonstrate adequate yearly progress. The policy would
have required the TEA to track all students, including students who withdrew from the public school in order to homeschool. Fortunately, this resolution died.

Senate Bill 466: Excluding a Child from the Immunization Registry

This bill would allow for a child to be excluded from the immunization registry. HSLDA supported this bill, but unfortunately, it did not
pass.

House Bill 351: Tuition Refund for Homeschoolers

This bill allowed for an exemption from or refund of tuition and fees for lower-division students enrolled in a general academic teaching institution who maintain a high grade-point average. HSLDA supported
this bill, but unfortunately, it did not pass.

House Bill 2084: Parental Rights Restoration Act

The bill would have modified the grandparent visitation law in favor of parental rights. The bill would prohibit a grandparent from suing a parent for access to the grandchild unless the grandparent provides
proof that the child's physical health will be endangered, and the child's emotional well-being and development will be impaired, if access is not granted. HSLDA supported this bill, but unfortunately,
the bill did not pass.

Thank you for your stand with us in fighting for homeschool freedoms!

Sincerely,

Christopher J. Klicka
HSLDA Senior Counsel"