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[begin article]
Parental-rights bill romps through House
Nation takes notice as controversial measure sails through the
legislature
BY REBECCA BUCKMAN / The Indianapolis Star/News
INDIANAPOLIS (Feb. 12, 1996) -- For state-level politicians, it's hard
to be against stiffer penalties for domestic violence and popular
measures such as establishing a registry of child molesters.
And as members of the 1996 Indiana General Assembly have discovered,
it's tough to oppose legislation promoting "parental rights" -- even
though similar measures have run into serious problems in other
states.
In fact, Indiana's innocuously titled Parental Rights and
Responsibilities Act, which has been sailing through the legislature,
made national history earlier this month when it passed out of the
House by a lopsided 70-30 vote.
According to a national group that tracks the issue, it marked the
first time a state legislative chamber has approved parental-rights
legislation.
The proposed laws commonly give parents, not the government, explicit
control over the upbringing and education of children.
"We are kind of leading the charge on that," said Rep. Jon Padfield,
R-Kokomo, the author of Indiana's House Bill 1346, which also gives
parents the right to sue the government if they feel their rights are
violated.
But critics, noting that a measure of that kind hasn't become law in
any other state, contend Indiana should think twice before moving
ahead.
Advocates from groups as diverse as social service agencies, school
organizations and police departments have reservations about the bill,
which also would change state laws governing the reporting of child
abuse.
It will be debated again in a Senate committee this week.
One provision -- giving people falsely accused of abuse access to
transcripts of reports alleging the crimes -- could jeopardize $35
million in federal child protection money the state is scheduled to
receive this year, according to the Indiana Family and Social Services
Administration.
The agency also thinks the law could cost county and state welfare
agencies at least $3 million, although legislative staff members
estimate the cost at about $400,000.
Others worry that the measure could discourage people from reporting
child abuse and prompt a flood of lawsuits from parents wanting to
control the day-to-day operation of their children's classrooms.
"That is a prescription for disaster in schools," said Rep. Robert E.
Hayes, D-Columbus, who voted against the bill.
Proponents of the legislation say those concerns are overstated.
Parental-rights laws are needed, they say, to root out excessive
government interference in parenting, including no-consent condom
distribution in schools and student surveys that ask extremely
personal questions.
"(The government) is clearly saying, 'The experts can raise kids, but
parents are a bunch of dummies,'" said Greg Erken, executive director
of the Virginia-based advocacy group Of the People. "That's the kind
of mentality we're trying to combat."
Erken's group has worked full time for two years trying to enact
parental-rights amendments to constitutions in 29 states. Of the
People works with organizations such as the Family Research Council,
Pat Robertson's Christian Coalition and the Home School Legal Defense
Association.
Erken's group isn't directly behind the push for parental rights in
Indiana, where there is no effort to amend the constitution.
Instead, Padfield and other conservative lawmakers and lobbyists --
including Eric Miller, head of Citizens Concerned for the Constitution
-- say they're pushing legislation in Indiana to address state-
specific problems of government intrusion.
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