Being a non-profit organization, THSC receives its financial weaponry directly from the citizens whom it defends. Parents are blessed to be able to home school in Texas, but the battle to protect this legacy of freedom is one of the most mentally and financially draining battles that any organization or individual can undertake.

In 1985 Shelby Sharpe filed a lawsuit against the TEA and every school district in Texas in response to the widespread persecution of home schoolers that was breaking out across the state. THSC led the charge all the way to the Texas Supreme Court, where home schoolers won their case in a unanimous decision. That ruling has since been encrypted into Texas law as a living defense of the rights we have as parents to educate our children.

In 1995 THSC fought to allow parents the right to teach their children to drive. Patrick Barrett, president of the North American Professional Drivers Education Association, concluded, “Without THSC, parent taught drivers education as we know if basically wouldn’t exist.”

This is the last day of our Spring Fundraiser. As we home school with you, it is our privilege to share this legacy of freedom—but we need your help to protect it for the next generation.

Your support will make an immediate difference. Please give $50, $100, $500, $1,500, or even $3,500 here today.

Join or renew your membership today (May 17) and receive an audio download of the best talks by our president, Tim Lambert, and his wife Lyndsay. Just use the Membership Promo Code: “Spring2013″ on the online membership application form. Make a donation of $100 or more and you will also receive these audio presentations.
 
 

   Donate Today!         Join THSC Today!   

The post A Legacy for Our Children appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

The good news is the Family Law Foundation’s (FLF) bills to expand the number of families that could be sued under the Grandparent Access Statute also died. SB 1148, carried by Senator West, was effectively killed by overwhelming opposition from parents and families across Texas. Senator West sought a compromise proposed by FLF which was rejected by us because it would not only expand the number of families exposed to such lawsuits but would also require no “expert testimony” to prevail against the parents. HB 391, the House version of the FLF’s bill, died in the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence. Had THSC not been there to sound the alarm on these bills, they may well have passed, to the detriment of the fundamental constitutional right of parents.

While it is disappointing that we did not pass the TPRRA, we made significant progress this session. We had a Senate bill that we did not have last session and we had a hearing on the measures in both the House and Senate. We also had more witnesses testify than we did two years ago, and their testimonies had a dramatic impact. More and more legislators are becoming aware of the problem, and our support is growing. We will continue to work on this issue, re-file the bills next session, and educate legislative candidates on the issue during the next campaign season. Thank you for supporting our efforts with your prayers and finances.

The post Good News and Bad News on Parental Rights appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

The bill also enables doctors to decide when to remove life-sustaining treatment for sick children who are suffering through so much pain. Only families should make these critical end-of-life decisions.

Under Section 7, Section 166.046(e), artificially administered food and water can be withdrawn if the ethics committee decides that the treatment would: (3) “result in substantial irremediable physical pain or discomfort not outweighed by the benefit of the provision of the treatment.”

I. Status of the bill:

At the hearing on May 13, there was overwhelming opposition to SB 303 from the pro-life community. Although six times as many people came in opposition to the bill, the committee members are still poised to vote the bill through the committee on Wednesday, May 15.

UPDATE: Chairman Lois Kolkhorst is standing bravely against this abridgment of parental rights. If the chairman can continue to withstand political pressure until Saturday, May 18, then the bill will be dead. YOUR CALLS are making a difference!

Our best hope is to stop SB 303 now. The bill passed the Senate 24 – 6. If it passes the House committee, the bill is only one step away from becoming Texas law.

II. Intent of the bill:

SB 303 intends to protect patients by eliminating ambiguity about “secret DNR” orders, among other things. Current law is silent as to whether doctors can issue in-hospital DNR orders. Therefore, certain doctors have taken the liberty to issue “secret DNR” orders without informing the parents of the patients of this decision. We do not condone this behavior and would like to see it eliminated.

This bill attempts to eliminate such “secret DNR” orders. The bill takes a step forward by requiring that doctors inform most patients when a DNR order has been placed in their file. (Section 166.012 (c), page 2 lines 14-18)

However, SB 303 affords inadequate protection for the most vulnerable patients. Doctors are not required to inform patients whose deaths are considered “imminent” that a DNR order has been placed. (Section 166.012 (g), page 3 lines 15-21)

III. Problems with the bill:

The bill takes a shuffling step forward by trampling parental rights. We believe that a true solution will not usurp the authority of the family in the process.

1. Doctors are empowered to issue a DNR order against the desires of the patient and the patient’s family. (Section 166.012 (c), page 2 lines 14-18)
2. Only doctors can remove the DNR. Families can only appeal the death sentence to an “ethics committee” of doctors. Families, not doctors, should have the ultimate authority to remove DNR orders. (Section 166.012 (e), page 2 lines 25-27 – line 2 of page 3)
3. Doctors are completely immune from lawsuits resulting from DNR orders. (p.4 lines 5-11)
4. Doctors do not have to inform the patients whose death is “imminent” despite resuscitation of a DNR order being placed in their file. (Section 166.012 (g), page 3 lines 15-24)

We spoke with the house author, Representative Susan King, who told us that when a doctor and parents disagreed about the care of a sick child, the doctor’s opinion should prevail. In the words of Representative King, doctors practice “medicine based on their best judgment for the patient. So that’s the whole crux of this. If the physician believes that this in the best judgment of the patient and the family says ‘no, you’ll do what we say’” doctors should be able to contravene the opinion of families.

SB 303 is more concerned with upholding the medical judgment of doctors than with preserving the lives of sick children.

IV. Call Now: Oppose Doctor Death Sentences:

Your call will make the difference between the life and death of sick children. Doctors should not have the legal authority to place death orders in the files of sick children.

SB 303 would bring Terri Schiavo’s story to Texas. According to Terri Schiavo’s brother, SB 303 empowers doctors to arbitrarily decide if the patient’s continued “quality of life” justifies the continued use of life-sustaining treatment.

Chair: Lois Kolkhorst
lois.kolkhorst@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0600

Bobby Guerra
bobby.guerra@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0578

Nicole Collier
Nicole.Collier@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0716

Sarah Davis
sarah.davis@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0389

Rep. Susan King, author of SB 303
susan.king@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0718

Rep. Garnet Coleman
garnet.coleman@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0524

Rep. J.D. Sheffield
j.d.sheffield@house.state.tx.us
(512) 463-0628

The post Euthanizing Children appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

Unsurprisingly, this organization has sponsored legislation to expand this lawsuit abuse. If passed, their legislation would allow any parent, no matter how fit or loving, to lose his or her children to vindictive grandparents simply because of the choice to home school.

As mentioned in an earlier post, Never See Them Again?, THSC is involved in a court battle to bring rogue CPS caseworkers to justice. These caseworkers essentially kidnapped a Houston grandmother’s grandchildren and kept them for 11 months in order to protect their own job security.

THSC is fighting to vindicate this Houston grandmother and, more importantly, to hold these rogue bureaucrats accountable for violating the law and to show others that there is a price to pay for such abuse.

That’s where you come in. Being a non-profit organization, THSC receives its financial support to engage in this battle directly from the citizens whom it defends. If defending liberty were free, we would have no reason to ask for your help. Unfortunately, it’s one of the most mentally and financially draining battles that any organization or individual can undertake.

With only 15 days left in the Texas legislative session, we need your help. THSC needs $50,000 in order to support our work to defeat these bills that would destroy the very fabric of our homes and to continue our legal battles in the courtroom to protect families.

Your support will make an immediate difference. Please give $50, $100, $500, $1,500, or even $3,500 today.

Join or renew your membership before May 17th and receive an audio download of the best talks by our president, Tim Lambert, and his wife Lyndsay. Just use the Membership Promo Code: “Spring2013″ on the online membership application form. Make a donation of $100 or more and you will also receive these audio presentations.
 
 

   Donate Today!         Join THSC Today!   

The post She was only six years old appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

We spoke to Susan King, the House author of SB 303, who said that hospitals have better judgment than parents as to whether their child should continue to receive life-support treatment. This bill takes away the parents’ authority to make important healthcare decisions for their child and gives that authority to a doctor.

SB 303 grants doctors complete immunity from lawsuits from DNRs. Legal liability for DNR orders would hold the doctor responsible for their actions. Removing liability removes accountability.

Doesn’t the bill require notification before a DNR order is placed?
Doctors must give notification of a DNR order unless the patient’s death is considered “imminent,” but notification is not consent. Even if the doctor notifies the parent of the DNR, the parent can do NOTHING.

Can the hospital still remove artificially administered food and water?
Yes. SB 303 allows doctors to remove the artificially administered nutrition and hydration from a sick patient if the treatments: [Section 166.046(e)]

1. Hasten the patient’s death,
2. “Exacerbate other major medical problems not outweighed by the benefit of the provision of the treatment,”
3. “Result in substantial irremediable physical pain or discomfort not outweighed by the benefit of the provision of the treatment,” or
4. Are “Be medically ineffective in prolonging the patient’s life.”

Only the child’s family should have the authority to decide whether to withdraw the life-sustaining nutrition.

Are there beneficial aspects to the bill?
As with many controversial bills, SB 303 contains both positive and negative elements. For instance, the bill requires that a doctor give notice of a DNR order. Additionally, the bill extends the time that a patient has to transfer hospitals before life-sustaining treatment is withdrawn. Currently, a family has 10 days to transfer their child to another hospital. SB 303 extends the time clock to 21 days. However, the Texas Right to Life has helped 80 families through the transfer process and very few can complete the transfer process within 21 days.

Contact your Representative in opposition to this hospital euthanasia bill. Doctors should not have the power to issue death sentences in the form of Do Not Resuscitate orders against the will of the patient and the patient’s family.

For a comprehensive comparison of the bill with the current law, see: http://goo.gl/irwgF

TAKE ACTION:

The bill passed the Senate and will receive a hearing in the house committee on Monday, May 13, 2013. Please contact the following committee members in opposition to the bill:

Chair: Lois Kolkhorst
(512) 463-0600

Vice Chair: Elliot Naishtat
(512) 463-0668

Garnet Coleman
(512) 463-0524

Nicole Collier
(512) 463-0716

Philip Cortez
(512) 463-0269

Sarah Davis
(512) 463-0389

Bobby Guerra
(512) 463-0578

Susan King
(512) 463-0718

Jodie Laubenberg
(512) 463-0186

J.D. Sheffield
(512) 463-0628

Bill Zedler
(512) 463-0374

The post SB 303: Doctors of Death appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

Parental Rights Advance

If TPRRA does pass, people like Heather Wyatt won’t have to live in fear anymore. Heather Wyatt’s story starts with abuse and ends with abuse. It’s one of many examples of a victim being victimized because of loopholes in a law called the Grandparent Access Statute.

These loopholes in the law allow vindictive in-laws to force fit parents into financially devastating legal battles–legal battles over who will have possession of the fit parent’s children. (For more information, visit: thsc.org/tprra.)

THSC is determined to change the Grandparent Access Statute to give parents back the rights they once had. The TPRRA will:

• Force in-laws to back up their claims with evidence
• Remove a judge’s ability to use temporary orders in these cases because the children are not facing abuse (If the children were facing abuse, the in-laws would be filing under a different section of the law. If it was an emergency situation needing emergency orders, the in-laws should contact the police.)
• Require a higher standard of evidence to be used in these types of cases
• Require expert testimony
• Protect parental rights by changing other aspects of the law (read more about TPRRA)

The loopholes will not be closed, and parental rights will not be strengthened, if our parental rights bill is not passed! Call your representative and ask them to vote for HB 2547.

Contact Your State Representative:

1. Visit: Who Represents Me Directory
2. Enter your address.
3. Select your state representative.
4. Call him or her and ask them to vote in favor of HB 2547.

This may be our last chance until 2015 to protect parents and children from the Grandparent Access Statute! Make those calls and share this email with others.

The post Molested Child Still in Danger appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

As a non-attorney, it was a trying and, at some times, agonizing experience for me. Although both sides offered a good-will attempt to find something we could both agree upon, the TFLF would not accept our three major points of 1) restricting a judge’s discretion for temporary orders (since we are dealing with fit parents), 2) requiring a final hearing within 45 days, and 3) raising the standard of evidence from “preponderance” to “clear and convincing.” In turn, we would not accept their two major points of 1) increasing the number of situations in which grandparents could sue fit parents and 2) requiring no expert testimony to prove that denial of access or possession would significantly impair the physical health or emotional well-being of the child—something the current law requires.

In the last meeting with this group, the lobbyist for TFLF became very animated and claimed that we were being unreasonable by not accepting their proposal. He complained that we had been pursuing these changes for six years and that his plan had been for us to accept the “compromise” and to agree that we would not seek further changes in this statute for two legislatives sessions. He also strongly disapproved of our framing of this issue as one that is often between well-off grandparents against low-income families and single parents.

However, I find it interesting that in public hearings in the House and the Senate, proponents of our bill and opponents of their bill included parents and families who have been devastated by such lawsuits, while those giving testimony against TPRRA and for the TFLF bill were lawyers. That pretty much sums up this battle: parents and families against attorneys.

While SB 1194 is languishing in the Senate Jurisprudence Committee as a result of these talks, the House version, HB 2547, will be debated on the House floor on Thursday—or at least it will be on the House Calendar for that day, which is also the last day that a House bill can be voted out of the House.

Please call your state representative and ask him or her to vote for HB 2547 on Thursday. Tell them that a parent’s fundamental, constitutional right to direct the care, control, and upbringing of their children should not be limited to those who have enough money to defend that right against wealthy grandparents in court.

The post Lawyers vs Families appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

Loopholes in the Grandparent’s Access Statute allowed the judge to take Chassidie’s children away from her. The original intention of this law was to allow grandparents to sue for the right to visit their grandchildren. Now it is being used by in-laws to get much more than visitation. THSC is determined to remove these loopholes from the law. We have a bill in the Texas House of Representatives to do just that, but it is waiting to be heard on the House floor.

Our bill, Texas Parental Rights Restoration Act, would:

• Force in-laws to back up their claims with evidence.
• Remove the judge’s ability to use temporary orders in these cases because the children are not facing abuse. If the children were facing abuse, the in-laws would be filing under a different section of the law. If it was an emergency situation needing emergency orders, the in-laws should contact the police.
• Protect parental rights by changing other aspects of the law. Read more about TPRRA.

The Calendar Controls Our Fate

Calendars Committee sets the schedule for when a bill will be heard on the House floor. Not only could this committee delay our bill, they could decide not to schedule it at all!

Call Today (and Tomorrow)

Because of your calls, the Texas Parental Rights Restoration Act has made it this far. Use your influence to help this bill go the rest of the way to becoming law . . . before May 7th. According to the House rules, May 7th is the last day for a bill to be scheduled to go to the house floor by the Calendars Committee.

The members of the Calendars Committee will be at the Capitol today and tomorrow, so please call both days. Ask the representatives below to place HB 2547 on the calendar for a vote.

Calendar Committee

Chair: Rep. Todd Hunter
(512) 463-0672
hunter.todd@house.state.tx.us

Vice Chair: Rep. Eddie Lucio III
(512) 463-0606
eddie.lucio_iii@house.state.tx.us

Members:
Rep. Roberto Alonzo
(512) 463-0408
roberto.alonzo@house.state.tx.us

Rep. Carol Alvarado
(512) 463-0732
carol.alvarado@house.state.tx.us

Rep. Dan Branch
(512) 463-0367
dan.branch@house.state.tx.us

Rep. Angie Chen Button
(512) 463-0486
angie.button@house.state.tx.us

Rep. Byron Cook
(512) 463-0730
byron.cook@house.state.tx.us

Rep. Myra Crownover
(512) 463-0582
myra.crownover@house.state.tx.us

Rep. Sarah Davis
(512) 463-0389
sarah.davis@house.state.tx.us

Rep. Craig Eiland
(512) 463-0502
craig.eiland@house.state.tx.us

Rep. John Frullo
(512) 463-0676
john.frullo@house.state.tx.us

Rep. Charlie Geren
(512) 463-0610
charlie.geren@house.state.tx.us

Rep. Helen Giddings
(512) 463-0953
helen.giddings@house.state.tx.us

Rep. John Kuempel
(512) 463-0602
john.kuempel@house.state.tx.us

Rep. Doug Miller
(512) 463-0325
doug.miller@house.state.tx.us

The post Stop Abusive In-Laws appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

That was twenty years ago. Because of your partnership and support of THSC, we were able to join Wesley in the fight for his daughter and the suit failed. Alex has since blossomed into a woman of God and has become another home school success story.

This Spring being Texas’ 83rd legislative session, THSC, more than ever, is working with families in similar situations. We have even taken on a volunteer team of six home school graduates to lobby at the capitol. But without the support of the homeschool community, even THSC’s ability to simply defend the freedoms we have to raise our children, would be crippled.

Between now and May 17th THSC needs $50,000 in order to continue our legal battles to protect families in the courts and to fix broken laws in the Texas Legislature. Please consider supporting THSC monetarily and with your prayers.

Your support will make an immediate difference. Please give $50, $100, $500, $1,500, or even $3,500 here today.
 
 

   Donate Today!         Join THSC Today!   

The post Alex Brace Story appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.

You may remember that a couple of weeks ago Senator West scheduled a hearing on SB 1148 and hours before the hearing withdrew the bill because of the high number of calls against the bill. The hearing did not begin until 8:30 p.m. because the Senate was in session until that time. As a result many witnesses who had planned to testify or register for SB 1194 and against SB 1148 were not able to attend.
Nevertheless, two families stayed all day long, including a mom, with three of her children, who had driven from Fort Worth and stayed all day long to give her emotional testimony and then made the hours-long drive home. The chairman was obviously opposed to our bill and directed the supporters of each bill to meet and “find some middle ground.”

Family law attorney Cecelia Wood and I spent a couple of hours with attorneys supporting SB 1148 to discuss our positions on the issue and will give written responses to each side and the senator in the next day or so. I do not expect an agreement. As I pointed out, they want to expand the opportunities to allow grandparents to sue for access and possession, and we want to limit it. That does not make for much middle ground.

Yesterday (April 24) the House Committee on Judiciary and Civil Jurisprudence voted HB 2547 out of committee. We are now working with the author to get the House Calendars Committee to schedule a vote for the bill on the House floor. We continue to need and appreciate your prayers.

The post TPRRA Update appeared first on Texas Home School Coalition.