BEwatch: A CRT Tip Line in West Virginia; Optional Masks in Virginia
BEwatch: A CRT Tip Line in West Virginia; Optional Masks in Virginia
Weekly updates on select state legislative bills to pay attention to ... because they might end up in your state, too
West Virginia - Senate Bill 587
Critical Race Theory “Tip Line”
There is hereby established a tip line within the Office of the Governor for parents and 1students in public schools in West Virginia to report the teaching of Critical Race Theory(CRT). The Governor’s office shall designate staff to answer this tip line and relay the information provided to the county board of education where the material is being taught for appropriate action.The tip line may be by phone, by e-mail, or both. The tip line is intended for parents to send in any instances where they feel that their fundamental rights are being violated, where their children are not being respected, and where there are inherently divisive practices being taught in schools.
Read about it (News & Sentinel) …
California - Senate Bill 871
Mandatory Covid Vaccinations
This bill would remove the above-described exception relating to hepatitis B. The bill would additionally prohibit the governing authority of a school or other institution from unconditionally admitting any person as a pupil of any public or private elementary or secondary school, childcare center, day nursery, nursery school, family day care home, or development center, unless prior to their admission to that institution they have been fully immunized against COVID-19. To the extent that the bill would create new duties for school districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
Florida - Senate Bill 146
15-Week Abortion Ban
Fetal and Infant Mortality Reduction; Revising the purpose and requirements for the Comprehensive Statewide Tobacco Education and Use Prevention Program; requiring the Department of Health to contract with local healthy start coalitions for the creation of fetal and infant mortality review committees in all regions of this state; prohibiting a physician from performing a termination of pregnancy if the physician determines the gestational age of a fetus is more than a specified number of weeks, with exceptions; requiring the directors of certain medical facilities and certain physicians to submit a certain report to the Agency for Health Care Administration monthly, etc.
Read about it (Florida Phoenix) …
Mississippi - House Concurrent Resolution 39
Initiative Process
The legislative power of this state shall be vested in a Legislature which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives, but the people reserve to themselves the right to exercise the legislative power of the state to propose new laws and to amend or repeal existing laws by initiative, and to approve or reject the same in an election independent of the Legislature, in the manner prescribed in and subject to the provisions of this section. The initiative process shall not be used:
(a) To propose amendments to the Mississippi Constitution of 1890;
(b) To propose any new law or amend or repeal any existing law relating to the Mississippi Public Employees' Retirement System;
(c) To propose any new law or amend or repeal any existing law on any subject or matter that any section of this constitution prohibits the Legislature from enacting; or
(d) To propose any new law or amend or repeal any existing law that appropriates funds from the State Treasury. (3) As used in this section, the term "initiative measure" or "measure" means a document proposing a new law or amending or repealing an existing law that is the functional equivalent of a bill that is introduced in the Legislature.
Read about it (Mississippi Today) …
Virginia - Senate Bill 739
Optional Mask Mandate
Notwithstanding any other provision of law or any regulation, rule, or policy implemented by a school board, school division, school official, or other state or local authority, the parent of any child enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school, or in any school-based early childhood care and education program, may elect for such child to not wear a mask while on school property. A parent making such an election shall not be required to provide a reason or any certification of the child's health or education status. No student shall suffer any adverse disciplinary or academic consequences as a result of this parental election.
Read about it (Virginia Mercury) …
Colorado - Senate Bill 22-113
Artificial Intelligence Facial Recognition
Concerning the use of personal identifying data, and, in connection therewith, creating a task force for the consideration of artificial intelligence, restricting the use of facial recognition services by state and local government agencies, and temporarily prohibiting the use of facial recognition services by public schools.