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Home Educators Association of Virginia (HEAV)

To: Virginia Home Educators
From: Joe Guarino, Director of Government Affairs

Monday, February 1, 2004

PHASE ONE VICTORY AND UPDATE: CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION BILL PASSES OUT OF COMMITTEE - UNANIMOUSLY

Thursday, January 29, HB 1135, the Child Abuse Prevention and Training Act (CAPTA), patroned by Del. Bob McDonnell, was recommended for passage by the Welfare Subcommittee of the House Health, Welfare, and Institutions Committee
6-0. The full committee met immediately afterwards, considered the bill, and reported it to the full House 21-0. This means the bill has successfully passed the first phase of becoming law. The bill will now go before the full House for a vote on the floor.

During the subcommittee meeting, Del. McDonnell explained how this bill had already passed as federal law and that the General Assembly should now drop it into state code. Federal money for the training component would also be forthcoming. Very few questions were asked. I had the opportunity to tell the subcommittee that we supported this bill. No opposition was voiced. Both ends of the political spectrum agreed on this bill. When the bill was heard before the full committee, no discussion occurred; a voice vote was taken, and all approved.

The bill was then read for the first time on the House Floor on Friday. Because the bill was uncontested, when it comes before the House for its second reading on Monday, it will more than likely be moved with a block of other bills for a vote on Tuesday. Discussion of the bill would only occur if a delegate asks for it to be removed from the uncontested calendar.

This bill would require all child protective service workers to inform parents of the allegation at the initial point of an investigation of alleged abuse. It would also require training for these workers in the constitutional rights of children and families, including Fourth Amendment and parental rights. Federal funds would be provided for the training.

ACTION: CALL YOUR DELEGATE MONDAY and ask him or her to SUPPORT HB 1135, the Child Abuse Prevention and Training bill. (If you think your delegate is extremely supportive of homeschooling, ask him or her to co-patron the bill.)

NOTE: Remember to call only your delegate, as delegates do not like to hear from constituents outside of their district on floor votes.

Click on this link to find the list of delegates: PHONE NUMBERS

Click on your delegate to find the phone numbers both in Richmond and in your district. Enough calls at the local level will generate increased interest and attention in Richmond. Call the Richmond office for the most direct way of voicing your opinion.

TALKING POINTS

1. By having this bill in Virginia code, if any challenges ever occur, Virginians will have redress at the state level first, plus all the appellate levels up to the federal courts.
2. By having this bill in Virginia code, Virginia will receive federal funds to train its child protective services workers on the Constitutional rights of families and children, especially the Fourth Amendment dealing with search and seizure.

HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA BILL

Thursday, I had the opportunity to visit the offices of approximately 40 delegates seeking their support for HB 675, the Homeschool High School Diploma bill. I must thank all of you for your faithfulness in reading and responding to these updates. If I heard it once, I must have heard it two dozen times: "Oh, yes. We're familiar with this bill. We've received several calls/e-mails on it already." And several legislative aides commented on how pleased they were to be receiving these messages from people within the delegate's district.

The reason I put so much effort into this bill on Thursday was because the bill was going to be heard Friday for debate on the House floor. During my visits, however, I received a call from Del. Rob Bell's legislative aide. (Del. Bell is the patron of the bill.) The aide informed me that Del. Bell was going to ask that the bill be passed by for the day on Friday, effectively giving us another day to call delegates seeking support. This was a good strategic move by Delegate Bell.

ACTION: If you haven't already called your delegate requesting support for HB 675, you now have Monday and Tuesday morning until 11 o'clock to make those calls or send e-mails. See the instructions above for locating your delegate's phone numbers. And remember: call only your delegate.

TALKING POINTS

1. Over the past 20 years, it has been proven, that regardless of a parent's educational background, there is very little difference in the child's scores on national standardized tests.
2. Virginia is the last state to use the baccalaureate degree as a threshold to homeschool. Nine states use the high school diploma. Forty states have no educational qualifications. We would like the General Assembly to bring Virginia more in line with at least the nine states.
3. Once passed, this would save local superintendents time and money since they would not have to approve math and language arts curricula for up to 11,000 students.
4. Some parents, who would normally have to comply with the SOL requirements for language arts and mathematics under Option 4, would have another choice for compliance within the homeschool statute.