SB 1256 - This act establishes the "Given Name Act". Under the act, no individual working in any capacity at a public school or school district shall address a student using a name that differs from the student's name as registered by such student's parents during enrollment or a pronoun that differs from a student's biological sex without first obtaining the written consent of the student's parents. A public entity, as such term is defined in the act, including any institution supported in whole or in part by public funds, shall not require any individual working in any capacity at a public school or school district to use a pronoun that differs from a person's biological sex if doing so would be contrary to such individual's sincerely held religious or moral convictions.
If the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has reasonable cause to believe that a public school or school district has knowingly violated the provisions of the act, DESE shall withhold any state funding to which such school or school district may be entitled until the school or school district proves to DESE's satisfaction that it is no longer in violation of the act.
Any parent of a student may bring a civil action against a school or school district that violates the provisions of the act, and any individual or parent may bring a civil action against a public entity that violates the provisions of the act, as set forth in the act. A public entity that is found by a court to have violated the act shall, in addition to any damages or other remedy deemed appropriate by the court, be ineligible for state or local contracts using state funds allocated to public schools and school districts under the education funding formula for a period of time specified in the act.
OLIVIA SHANNON