Parental Rights Under Threat

Karen England is the Executive Director of the Capitol Resource Institute. They educate and strengthen families and engage in public policy. There have been numerous attempts to usurp parental authority here in the U.S. through the years and Crosstalk has kept listeners informed regarding such efforts. This Crosstalk looked at another such threat that's coming from the state of California. The concern deals with an act proposed by the California Assembly. It's AB495, the so-called Family Preparedness Plan Act. Karen describes it as the "Pedophile Protection Act," something that redefines the family by, for example, expanding the definition of what a relative is. This legislation is being sold as a way to help immigrant children. However, Karen described how it would allow anyone to print off a caregiver's authorization (including the child's name), sign it, check a box indicating you weren't able to get a hold of the child's parents and that you assert all medical, mental and schooling authority over that child. According to the legislation, no parental signature is needed. Although this is California legislation, this would also affect children traveling to California as well. This legislation is thought to be dangerous by some individuals and organizations. For example, the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) says this puts parental rights at risk. California Families says this will bypass and sidestep parents. Save California indicates that this strips parents of their parental rights and allows for kids to be stolen from their parents. The Center for Arizona Policy warns that this would produce legalized child trafficking.