May 11, 2023
Golden State Republican Women
Janet Price, President
Submitted by the GSRW Legislative Analyst Committee
Karen Contreras, Lou Ann Flaherty and Elaine Freeman,
THE FIRST LEGISLATIVE DEADLINE
Last Friday, April 28th brought the first Legislative Deadline for the 2023-24 session. J.R. 61(a)(2) requires all Fiscal Bills move on to Appropriations. Any Fiscal Bills remaining in their policy committees may not be heard again until January of 2024. 319 Bills failed to pass the deadline this year. The next deadline will occur May 5th, requiring all Non-Fiscal Bills to be out of their policy Committees and move on to the Floor. We will keep you posted!
PARENTAL RIGHTS
5 bills affecting parental rights
AB 659 – Coerce Teens and College students to get risky Gardasil Jabs
AB 665 – Emancipate 12-year-olds for counselling and treatment by removing parental notification
AB 352 – Hide treatment records from parents
AB 223 -Keep Secret Minors legal gender change by sealing records
AB 957 – Directs judges to oppose parents who do not support gender change during custody matters. (Details below)
AB 957, as amended, Family law: gender identity.
Existing law authorizes a person to petition for a court order conforming the person’s name to the person’s gender identity. Existing law requires the court, upon the filing of a petition commencing a proceeding for a change of name to conform the petitioner’s name to the petitioner’s gender identity, to make an order reciting the filing of the petition and directing all persons interested in the matter to make their objections known, as specified.
Existing law requires the petition and order to be served on the parent who did not sign the petition if a petition to change the name of a minor to conform to their gender identity does not include the signature of both living parents, as specified.
This bill would require the court to strongly consider that affirming the minor’s gender identity is in the best interest of the child if a nonconsenting parent objects to a name change to conform to the minor’s gender identity.
Existing law governs the determination of child custody and visitation in contested proceedings and requires the court, for purposes of deciding custody, to determine the best interests of the child based on certain factors, including, among other things, the nature and amount of contact with both parents and the health, safety, and welfare of the child.
This bill would require a court, when determining the best interests of a child, to also consider a parent’s affirmation of the child’s gender identity.
To contact your U.S. Representatives, call the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121
Legislative Portal links- Express your support or opposition to a bill or directly to the Legislative committee currently reviewing it (as an individual, not as a member of GSRW)– click here, or the bill’s author- click here, enter your bill # and look for tab at top of the bill page labeled “Comments to Author”
