SCS/SB 134 - This act establishes the "Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act", which prohibits any school official at a public or charter school from encouraging a student under the age of eighteen years old to adopt a gender identity or sexual orientation. This prohibition shall not apply to certain course components of a school's curriculum. The act additionally creates provisions to prohibit a school official from withholding information regarding a student's gender identity from the student's parent. A school official shall inform a student's parent within twenty-four hours if the student expresses confusion about their gender identity or requests to use personal pronouns that differ from their sex as registered by their parent during enrollment. A school official shall obtain parental consent before encouraging a student to wear certain items of clothing and before allowing a student to use a name other than the name provided by the parent when registering the student for school. Finally, a school official shall not encourage a student to pursue gender reassignment therapy or surgical procedures. A teacher who violates these provisions shall face charges of incompetence, immorality, and neglect of duty under the laws governing the discipline of holders of certificate of license to teach. A parent of a minor child may bring a civil action against a school district or public school that violates the provisions of the act, and the attorney general may bring a civil action against any school district or public school that violates the provisions of the act.
OLIVIA SHANNON