2022 Update: This bill did not pass the 2021 legislative session, but THSC will continue to support bills like this in future legislative sessions that ensure that the parental authority of fit parents is not usurped by local governmental entities.
One way THSC fulfills its mission of empowering parents to raise and educate the next generation is by supporting, opposing and amending legislation to ensure family rights are protected.
Across Texas, various cities have juvenile curfew ordinances on the books, which prevent youth from being out in public during specified times during both the day and night. Many Texas homeschoolers can be subjected to these ordinances and face penalties.
However, a few legislative sessions ago, Texas decriminalized truancy. This meant Texas eliminated the criminal penalty for not being in school. Nevertheless, inconsistent with statewide truancy decriminalization, cities within Texas still create and enact juvenile curfew ordinances.
THSC has worked to strike down juvenile curfew ordinances across Texas. THSC fought local ordinances in Waco and Dallas and was successful in overturning Austin’s juvenile curfew ordinance. However, juvenile curfew ordinances are still prevalent throughout the state.
To offer a statewide fix, THSC is supporting HB 561 this 2021 legislative session. The bill is sponsored by State Rep. Celia Israel and would prevent individual locales in Texas from adopting or enforcing juvenile curfew ordinances.
Currently, because different cities have different juvenile curfew ordinances, homeschoolers can violate a curfew ordinance simply by crossing a city line. Even more importantly, both state and local government should not be able to override the parental authority of a fit parent if that parent decides that it’s best to allow their child out during a certain time of the day. Passing HB 561 would resolve both issues.
What does THSC’s support mean for a bill? THSC supports bills that protect family rights in a number of ways. Throughout the session, THSC gathers support among legislators for bills that protect family rights. Additionally, THSC testifies in favor of and in opposition to bills. This session, when HB 561 gets to committee, THSC plans to testify in favor of the bill.
THSC is always working to make sure legislation passed in the Capitol safeguards family rights. Please pray for us as we continue Keeping Texas Families Free!
2022 Update: This bill did not pass the 2021 legislative session, but THSC will continue to support bills like this in future legislative sessions that ensure that the parental authority of fit parents is not usurped by local governmental entities.
One way THSC fulfills its mission of empowering parents to raise and educate the next generation is by supporting, opposing and amending legislation to ensure family rights are protected.
Across Texas, various cities have juvenile curfew ordinances on the books, which prevent youth from being out in public during specified times during both the day and night. Many Texas homeschoolers can be subjected to these ordinances and face penalties.
However, a few legislative sessions ago, Texas decriminalized truancy. This meant Texas eliminated the criminal penalty for not being in school. Nevertheless, inconsistent with statewide truancy decriminalization, cities within Texas still create and enact juvenile curfew ordinances.
THSC has worked to strike down juvenile curfew ordinances across Texas. THSC fought local ordinances in Waco and Dallas and was successful in overturning Austin’s juvenile curfew ordinance. However, juvenile curfew ordinances are still prevalent throughout the state.
To offer a statewide fix, THSC is supporting HB 561 this 2021 legislative session. The bill is sponsored by State Rep. Celia Israel and would prevent individual locales in Texas from adopting or enforcing juvenile curfew ordinances.
Currently, because different cities have different juvenile curfew ordinances, homeschoolers can violate a curfew ordinance simply by crossing a city line. Even more importantly, both state and local government should not be able to override the parental authority of a fit parent if that parent decides that it’s best to allow their child out during a certain time of the day. Passing HB 561 would resolve both issues.
What does THSC’s support mean for a bill? THSC supports bills that protect family rights in a number of ways. Throughout the session, THSC gathers support among legislators for bills that protect family rights. Additionally, THSC testifies in favor of and in opposition to bills. This session, when HB 561 gets to committee, THSC plans to testify in favor of the bill.
THSC is always working to make sure legislation passed in the Capitol safeguards family rights. Please pray for us as we continue Keeping Texas Families Free!
