(The Center Square) – Four proposals in two committees of the North Carolina House of Representatives are intertwined with changes from the previous presidential administration of Joe Biden to the second term of Republican Donald Trump.
Each involves parents and their children, the parental rights, and some involve medical care. As evidenced from executive orders to the festivities of Easter at the White House, families and faith are priorities of the new administration.
Two of the bills are in the Judiciary 2 Committee in the House on Tuesday afternoon.
Parents’ Medical Bill of Rights, known also as House Bill 519, is directed at parental consent for minors. It would be needed for children to receive diagnosis, treatment or prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, substance abuse, emotional disturbances, and prevention of pregnancy. Access to medical records of minor children by parents is in the bill.
If made law, enactment would be Oct. 1. Primary sponsors are Republican Reps. Jennifer Balkcom of Henderson County, Donnie Loftis of Gaston County, Brian Biggs of Randolph County and Larry Potts of Davidson County.
Civil Procedure Amendment, known also as House Bill 606, gives an extension to the statute of limitations for medical malpractice in gender transition procedures. The bill language says, “a cause of action arising out of the performance or failure to perform services while in the course of facilitating or perpetuating gender transition shall be commenced within 25 years from the day the claimant reaches 18 years or age or four years from discovery of both the injury and the causal relationship between the treatment and the injury, whichever is later.”
If made law, enactment would be immediate. Primary sponsors are Republican Reps. Jonathan Almond, Dean Arp of Union County, Dennis Riddell of Alamance County and John Blust of Guilford County.
The other two bills are in the Health Committee meeting in the House on Tuesday.
Baby Boxes/Newborn Safety Device, also known as House Bill 139, provides an anonymous option for mothers to protect babies from abandonment. It is an expansion of the Safe Surrender Law.
If made law, enactment would be immediate. Primary sponsors are Balkcom, Potts, and Republican Reps. Ray Pickett of Watauga County and Bill Ward of Gates County.
Parents Protection Act, also known as House Bill 560 and with a companion Senate Bill 442, would make sure parents can’t be accused of abuse or neglect for raising their child according to birth sex, or lose custody of their children if there is disagreement of their sex when born and a potential gender identity claim. Medical decisions are the parents’ fundamental rights, according to the bill. Also, potential adoptions or foster care would not be tied to prospective parents having to affirm gender identity.
If made law, enactment would be Dec. 1. Primary sponsors are Balkcom, Loftis, Biggs and Rep. Neal Jackson of Moore County in the House; the upper chamber version is led by Sens. Jim Burgin of Harnett County, Amy Galey of Alamance County and Benton Sawrey of Johnston County.
