Statement from Rep. Travis Couture on a measure that would erode parental rights
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Statement from Rep. Travis Couture on a measure that would erode parental rights
Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, released the following statement today after Senate Bill 5599, a proposal exempting youth shelters from parental notification requirements if a child is seeking or receiving “gender affirming” treatment or reproductive health care services, was passed out of the House Human Services, Youth, and Early Learning Committee.
“Fundamentally, I believe parental rights matter. They matter under the U.S. Constitution, and they matter to me on a deeply personal level. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled multiple times that the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment secures parental rights that would be eliminated under this bill. Moms and dads who are providing a safe home have the right to know where their kids are.
“I also support the goal of this bill: reducing suicide rates for transgender youths. But we won’t achieve that by erecting barriers between families. Rather, we should keep families together and help them work through these difficult issues. The bond between parent and child is a sacred one, and parents should be able to be there for their kids when they’re at their most vulnerable.”
Under current law, minors can receive these services without parental knowledge or permission. This bill strictly deals with the duty of youth shelters to notify parents of the whereabouts of their children.
Today, if a runaway youth enters a youth shelter without parental permission, the shelter is required to report the child’s location, unless there’s a compelling reason not to. In that case, the shelter must notify the Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF).
“Compelling reasons” include, but are not limited to, circumstances that indicate that notifying a parent or legal guardian will subject a minor to abuse or neglect. This bill would add gender-affirming treatment and reproductive health care services as compelling reasons not to notify a parent.
Republicans on the committee proposed five amendments to fix various problems with the bill. The majority party rejected all five amendments.
Couture’s final amendment would have required youth shelters to notify DCYF so the department could connect kids with their families with appropriate counseling services.
SB 5599 now heads to the House Rules Committee, which schedules bills for the House floor.
