H-1199.1  _______________________________________________

                          HOUSE BILL 1667

          _______________________________________________

State of Washington      55th Legislature     1997 Regular Session

By Representatives Lambert, Johnson and Mulliken

Read first time 02/04/97.  Referred to Committee on Education.

Prohibiting schools from asking students certain questions.

    AN ACT Relating to questioning students concerning their personal beliefs or practices, or the beliefs or practices of their parents or guardian, regarding sex, religion, political affiliation, or mental or psychological treatment; adding a new section to chapter 28A.600 RCW; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  A new section is added to chapter 28A.600 RCW to read as follows:

    (1) A school district employee or other individual under the auspices of a school district may not require a student to submit to a survey, test, questionnaire, or examination that elicits the personal beliefs or practices of a student, or the student's parents or guardians, as to sex, religion, political affiliations, or mental or psychological treatment, unless prior written consent is obtained from a parent or guardian of the student.  If the student is emancipated or an adult, the prior written consent must be obtained from the student.

    (2) A parent may file a complaint with the local school board when the provisions of subsection (1) of this section are violated.  The school district board of directors shall investigate and schedule a public meeting to be held no more than thirty days after the complaint is received by the board.  The board shall assess a minimum penalty of two hundred fifty dollars for each affirmed violation that is the result of a complaint filed with the board by a parent or guardian.

    (3) A parent may also file a complaint with the superintendent of public instruction when the school district board of directors is unresponsive to a parent's or guardian's complaint pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, or if the school district authorized the administration of the test, survey, questionnaire, or examination in violation of subsection (1) of this section.  The superintendent shall investigate and render a decision within thirty days of receiving the complaint.  The superintendent shall assess a minimum penalty of  one thousand dollars to the school district for each affirmed violation that is the result of a complaint filed with the board by a parent or guardian.

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