The "Protecting Families and Children Act (PFCA)" seeks to enhance public safety by establishing strict regulations surrounding gender transition procedures for minors and reinforcing parental rights. The bill prohibits health care professionals from performing or referring minors for gender transition procedures, including puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries, while mandating that health plans and public funds cannot cover these procedures. Exceptions are made for medically verifiable disorders of sex development. In educational settings, the bill enforces guidelines that require sex-segregated facilities based on biological sex, parental consent for social transitions, and parental notification of significant changes in a student's health. It also emphasizes parental authority in directing their children's education and allows for civil remedies against schools that violate these rights.

Additionally, the bill introduces new definitions and provisions related to prohibited instruction in schools, particularly concerning gender identity and sexual orientation. It establishes penalties for educators who violate these prohibitions, including potential felony charges and revocation of teaching licenses. The legislation clarifies that a parent's decision to decline gender transition procedures for their child cannot be considered abuse or neglect, and it amends custody jurisdiction laws to prioritize the child's home state. Furthermore, it categorizes conversion therapy for minors as unprofessional conduct and protects gender-affirming health care as a right in Minnesota, ensuring that out-of-state laws penalizing parents for such care will not be enforced. The bill includes a severability clause and emphasizes that differing viewpoints or religious beliefs will not be criminalized.

Statutes affected:
Introduction: 62Q.585, 214.078, 243.166, 609.2325, 253B.185, 526.10, 518D.201, 518D.204, 518D.207