HB 22-1236

House Bill 22-1236, also known as the Parent's Bill of Rights, aims to strengthen parental rights in Colorado by requiring schools and other educational institutions to develop policies that encourage parent involvement in their children’s education. The bill also mandates that parents must give written or verbal consent for any surgical procedures performed on their minor child, with exceptions for cases where a child is under the custody of social services. This bill has been signed into law, meaning its provisions are now enforceable and will impact how schools operate and medical procedures are handled for minors in Colorado.

Official Summary

The bill establishes a parent's bill of rights that sets forth specific parental rights related to directing the upbringing, education, and health care of a minor child. The bill requires a board of education of a school district, board of cooperative services, charter school, or institute charter school, in consultation with parents, teachers, and administrators, to develop and adopt a policy to promote the involvement of parents of the enrolled minor child. The bill prohibits an individual, corporation, association, organization, state-supported institution, or individual employed by any of these entities from procuring, soliciting to perform, arranging for the performance of, or performing a surgical procedure upon a minor without written or verbal consent from the minor's parent. Parental consent is not required if the minor is in the custody of a county department of human or social services or the division of youth services. (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)