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2013 SESSION

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13102424D
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 574 Offered January 9, 2013 Prefiled December 19, 2012 Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Virginia by adding in Article I a section numbered 16-A, relating to the right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children. ---------- Patrons-- Pogge and Cole ---------- Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice ----------

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, a majority of the members elected to each house agreeing, That the following amendment to the Constitution of Virginia be, and the same hereby is, proposed and referred to the General Assembly at its first regular session held after the next general election of members of the House of Delegates for its concurrence in conformity with the provisions of Section 1 of Article XII of the Constitution of Virginia, namely:

Amend the Constitution of Virginia by adding in Article I a section numbered 16-A, as follows:

ARTICLE I BILL OF RIGHTS

Section 16-A. Parental rights.

The right of parents to direct the care, upbringing, and education of their children is a fundamental right, and this right shall not be infringed upon by the Commonwealth without a demonstration that the interest of the Commonwealth is of the highest order and not otherwise served. Nothing herein shall be construed to apply to a parental action or decision that would end the life of a child.