‘Broad’ Indiana bill protecting parents’ rights from DCS, schools advances to House floor

Supporters of a controversial parental rights bill argued Monday that schools and state agencies should default to parents as the primary decision-makers for their children, and that Hoosier families need recourse when they believe their “authoritative” rights have been violated.

Up for debate in the House Judiciary Committee was Senate Bill 143 – a third attempt by Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, to codify that governmental entities “may not substantially burden a parent’s fundamental right” to direct the “upbringing, religious instruction, education or health care” of a child unless it has a “compelling interest.”