Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN Texas On Thursday Feb. 28 Rep. Jeff Leach filed House Bill (HB) 2756 the Family Unity Act which codifies 100 years of constitutional protections for parents and children outlined by last Fridays Attorney General (AG) Opinion KP-0241.
The Family Unity Act is a top legislative priority of the Texas Home School Coalition in 2019.
AG Opinion KP-0241 outlines 100 years of precedent from the U.S. Supreme Court and Texas Supreme Court regarding what the state must consider when evaluating the best interests of the child." If passed The Family Unity Act would place these constitutional protections directly into the family code where they are currently absent.
The U.S. Supreme Court underscored the critical nature of the right of families to raise their children in Troxel v. Granville saying The liberty interest at issue in this casethe interest of parents in the care custody and control of their childrenis perhaps the oldest of the fundamental liberty interests recognized by this Court."
Texas Home School Coalition believes that Texas law should comply with U.S. and Texas Supreme Court precedent which reflects a deep respect for the parent-child relationship and limited state intervention.
Representative Jeff Leach stated in response to the filing of the bill House Bill 2756 codifies years of United States and Texas Supreme Court case law as well as a recent Texas Attorney General Opinion regarding constitutional protections for parents and their children. We must continue to work to safeguard and strengthen Texas families and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Texas House to do just that."
The Family Unity Act was developed in accordance with AG Opinion KP-0241 and with input from numerous district court judges family law attorneys appellate attorneys and appellate court justices around the state including one former Texas Supreme Court Justice.
View THSCs Brief on the AGs Opinion
