23.0421.03000
Sixty-eighth
Legislative Assembly SENATE BILL NO. 2260
of North Dakota
Introduced by
Senators Paulson, Lemm, Wobbema
Representatives Dyk, Heilman, Novak
1 A BILL for an Act to create and enact a new section to chapter 14-09, a new section to chapter
2 15.1-09, and a new section to chapter 23-12 of the North Dakota Century Code, relating to
3 fundamental parental rights, parental involvement in education, and parental right to consent to
4 medical treatment of the parent's child.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF NORTH DAKOTA:
6 SECTION 1. A new section to chapter 14-09 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
7 and enacted as follows:
8 Parental rights and responsibilities - Fundamental rights.
9 1. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
10 a. "Child" means an individual under the age of eighteen.
11 b. "Parent" means a biological parent of a child, an adoptive parent of a child, or an
12 individual who has been granted exclusive right and authority over the welfare of
13 a child under state law.
14 2. This state, any political subdivision, or any other governmental entity may not
15 substantially burden the fundamental right of a parent to direct the upbringing,
16 education, health care, and mental health of that parent's child without demonstrating
17 that the burden is required by a compelling governmental interest of the highest order
18 as applied to the parent and the child and is the least restrictive means of furthering
19 that compelling governmental interest.
20 3. Parental rights are reserved exclusively to a parent of a child without obstruction by or
21 interference from the state, a political subdivision, a governmental entity, or other
22 institution, including the right to:
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1 a. Direct the education of the child, including the right to choose public, private,
2 parochial, or home schooling, and the right to make reasonable choices within a
3 public school for the education of the child.
4 b. Access and review a written or electronic educational record relating to the child
5 which is controlled by or in the possession of a school.
6 c. Direct the upbringing of the child.
7 d. Direct the moral or religious training of the child.
8 e. Make and consent in writing to a physical or mental health care decision for the
9 child.
10 f. Access and review a health or medical record of the child.
11 g. Consent in writing before a biometric scan of the child is made, shared, or stored.
12 h. Consent in writing before a record of the child's blood or deoxyribonucleic acid is
13 created, stored, or shared, unless authorized pursuant to a court order.
14 i. Consent in writing before any governmental entity makes a video or voice
15 recording of the child, unless the video or voice recording is made during or as a
16 part of:
17 (1) A court proceeding;
18 (2) A law enforcement investigation;
19 (3) A forensic interview in a criminal or department of health and human
20 services investigation; or
21 (4) The security or surveillance of buildings or grounds.
22 j. Be notified promptly if an employee of the state, a political subdivision, a
23 governmental entity, or other institution suspects abuse, neglect, or a criminal
24 offense has been committed against the child.
25 k. Opt the child out of any personal analysis, evaluation, survey, or data collection
26 by a school district which would capture data except what is necessary to
27 establish a student's educational record.
28 l. Have the child excused from school attendance for religious purposes.
29 m. Participate in parent-teacher associations and school organizations.
30 4. This section does not authorize or allow a parent to abuse or neglect a child as
31 provided under sections 14-09-22 and 14-09-22.1.
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1 5. This section does not:
2 a. Apply to a parental action or decision that would end life.
3 b. Prohibit a court from issuing an order that is otherwise permitted by law.
4 6. An employee of the state, a political subdivision, or a governmental entity, except for
5 law enforcement personnel, may not encourage or coerce a child to withhold
6 information from the child's parent and may not withhold information that is relevant to
7 the physical, emotional, or mental health of the child from a child's parent.
8 7. A parent may bring suit for a violation of this section and may raise the section as a
9 defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding whether the proceeding is brought
10 by or in the name of the state, a private person, or other party. A person that
11 successfully asserts a claim or defense under this chapter may recover declaratory
12 relief, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, reasonable attorney's fees and costs,
13 and other appropriate relief.
14 SECTION 2. A new section to chapter 15.1-09 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
15 and enacted as follows:
16 Parental involvement.
17 1. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
18 a. "Child" means an individual under the age of eighteen.
19 b. "Curriculum" includes textbooks; reading materials; handouts; videos;
20 presentations; digital materials; websites; online applications; digital applications
21 for a phone, laptop, or tablet; questionnaires; surveys; or other written or
22 electronic materials that have been or will be assigned, distributed, or otherwise
23 presented physically or virtually to students in a class or course.
24 c. "Educational records" includes attendance records, test scores of school-
25 administered tests and statewide assessments, grades, extracurricular activity or
26 club participation, electronic mail accounts, online or virtual accounts or data,
27 disciplinary records, counseling records, psychological records, applications for
28 admission, health and immunization information including any medical records,
29 teacher and counselor evaluations, and reports of behavioral patterns.
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1 d. "Parent" means a biological parent of a child, an adoptive parent of a child, or an
2 individual who has been granted exclusive right and authority over the welfare of
3 a child under state law.
4 2. The board of a school district, in consultation with parents, teachers, and
5 administrators, shall develop and adopt a policy to promote the involvement of parents
6 of children enrolled in the school district, including:
7 a. A plan for parent participation designed to improve parent and teacher
8 cooperation in areas including homework, attendance, and discipline;
9 b. Procedures to inform a parent about the course of study for that parent's child
10 and review curriculum. These procedures shall allow a parent to:
11 (1) Review the syllabus, curriculum, and teacher training materials for each
12 class or course that a parent's child is enrolled in at least seven days before
13 the start of each class or course. The syllabus shall include a written
14 description of all topics and subjects taught in a class or course, a list of all
15 curriculum used in the class or course, the identity of all individuals
16 providing in-person or live remote instruction in the class or course, and a
17 description of any assemblies, guest lectures, field trips, or other
18 educational activities that are part of the class or course;
19 (2) Review, copy, and record all curriculum for each class or course offered by
20 the school and any teacher training materials at least three days before use
21 of the curriculum or teacher training materials; and
22 (3) Meet with the teacher of the class or course, the principal, or other
23 representative from the school to discuss the curriculum and teacher
24 training materials.
25 c. Procedures to notify a parent at least three days in advance and obtain the
26 parent's written consent before the parent's child attends any instruction or
27 presentation that relates to gender roles or stereotypes, gender identity, gender
28 expression, sexual orientation, or romantic or sexual relationships;
29 d. Procedures for a parent to object to a specific presentation or instruction on the
30 basis the presentation or instruction is harmful and to withdraw that parent's child
31 from the presentation or instruction. A parent may object to a specific
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1 presentation or instruction that questions beliefs or practices regarding sex,
2 morality, or religion based on harmfulness;
3 e. A procedure to inform a parent about the nature and purpose of clubs and
4 extracurricular activities approved by the school and a procedure to withdraw that
5 parent's child from a club or extracurricular activity;
6 f. Procedures requiring parental written consent before a child uses a name or
7 nickname other than the child's legal name, or before a child uses a pronoun that
8 does not align with the child's sex. Notwithstanding parental consent, a school
9 may not require an individual to use pronouns that do not align with the child's
10 sex; and
11 g. Procedures by which a parent may learn about parental rights and
12 responsibilities under the laws of this state.
13 3. The board of a school district may adopt a policy to publish the information required by
14 this section in an electronic form.
15 4. A parent shall submit a written or electronic request for information pursuant to this
16 section to the school principal or the superintendent of the school district. Within
17 ten days of receiving the request for information, the school principal or the
18 superintendent shall deliver the requested information or a written explanation of the
19 reasons for the denial of the requested information to the parent. If the request for
20 information is denied or the parent does not receive the requested information within
21 the allotted time, the parent may submit a written request for the information to the
22 board of the school district, which shall consider the request during executive session
23 at the next meeting of the board.
24 5. A parent may bring suit for a violation of this section and may raise the section as a
25 defense in a judicial or administrative proceeding whether the proceeding is brought
26 by or in the name of the state, a private person, or other party. A person that
27 successfully asserts a claim or defense under this chapter may recover declaratory
28 relief, injunctive relief, compensatory damages, reasonable attorney's fees and costs,
29 and other appropriate relief.
30 SECTION 3. A new section to chapter 23-12 of the North Dakota Century Code is created
31 and enacted as follows:
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1 Parental consent.
2 1. As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:
3 a. "Child" means an individual under the age of eighteen.
4 b. "Parent" means a biological parent of a child, an adoptive parent of a child, or an
5 individual who has been granted exclusive right and authority over the welfare of
6 a child under state law.
7 2. Except as otherwise provided by law or court order, an individual, corporation,
8 association, organization, state-supported institution, or individual employed by any of
9 these entities shall obtain the consent of a parent of a child before taking any of the
10 following actions:
11 a. Procuring, soliciting to perform, arranging for the performance of, providing a
12 referral for, or performing a surgical procedure on a child;
13 b. Procuring, soliciting to perform, arranging for the performance of, providing a
14 referral for, or performing a physical examination of a child;
15 c. Prescribing or dispensing a medication or prescription drug to a child; or
16 d. Procuring, soliciting to perform, arranging for the performance of, providing a
17 referral for, or performing a mental health evaluation or mental health treatment
18 on a child.
19 3. If the parental consent pursuant to subsection 2 is given through telemedicine, the
20 individual or entity obtaining parental consent must verify the identity of the parent at
21 the site where the consent is given.
22 4. This section does not apply when it has been determined by a physician that:
23 a. An emergency exists; and
24 b. Either of the following conditions is true:
25 (1) It is necessary to perform an activity listed in subsection 1 to prevent death
26 or imminent, irreparable physical injury to the child, or
27 (2) The individual or entity obtaining parental consent cannot locate or contact
28 the parent of the child after a reasonably diligent effort.
29 5. This section not apply to an abortion, which is governed by section 14-02.1-03.1.
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