SB1443

THE CONTEXT: The Arizona Parents' Bill of Rights asserts that parents have exclusive and fundamental rights over the upbringing, education, health care and general welfare of their minor children without government interference. It enumerates various parental rights and restricts government entities from infringing on those rights unless they can demonstrate that such interference serves a compelling government interest and is narrowly tailored.

WHAT THE BILL DID: The final vetoed version would direct the court, if it awards compensatory damages to parents for a violation of the Parents' Bill of Rights, to award at least $2,500 for each violation of the Parents' Bill of Rights and add explicitly that parents have the right to make mental health care decisions for their minor children.

WHY IT MATTERED: The practical reason for this bill was to turn the Legislature's standard for parental rights into an enforceable rule. It would direct the court, if it awards compensatory damages to parents for a violation of the Parents' Bill of Rights, to award at least $2,500 for each violation of the Parents' Bill of Rights, and would also add explicitly that parents have the right to make mental health care decisions for their minor children, rather than leave the current rule unchanged.