The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current statutes regarding parental rights by introducing specific requirements for compensatory damages and clarifying the scope of parental rights in health care decisions. Under the new provisions, the existing language that allows for compensatory damages and attorney fees would be updated to mandate that any awarded compensatory damages for violations of the Parents' Bill of Rights must total at least $2,500 for each violation. This change aims to ensure that parents receive a minimum level of compensation when their rights are infringed upon.

Additionally, the bill would clarify that a parent's right to make health care decisions for their minor child explicitly includes the right to make mental health care decisions. This insertion enhances the current statute, which previously only referred to general health care decisions without specifying mental health. Overall, these updates would strengthen parental rights and provide clearer guidelines for legal recourse in cases of violations.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 1-602