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LEGISLATIVE ALERT
Dear Fellow Home Educators:
HB 5468, the equivalent instruction bill that would take us from freedom to chains is likely to be brought for a vote in the Education Committee meeting on
Wednesday , March 18 at 10:00 am
Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building.
The official agenda will not be published until late tomorrow, but it is best to plan ahead so that you can attend the meeting.
The Education Committee heard almost 19 hours of testimony. The overwhelming majority opposed the bill. This included testimony from school superintendents and town officials. The Education Commissioner has stated (in her testimony on SB6) that she cannot comply with DCF provisions of the bill because it would violate federal privacy laws.
Three thousand seven hundred sixteen (3716) written testimonies have been filed in opposition, with only fifty two (52) in support. According to a quick search of the internet, the average bill in Connecticut receives between 40 and 70 pieces of written testimony. The typical bill gets 30-60 minutes of committee time. Over 3700 testimonies is not a small number of people who have engaged in civic interaction with the legislature before a bill is passed, nor is nearly 19 hours of public testimony.
Despite the shameless use of two tragic cases of abuse to push this bill, the truth is that DCF checks will collect data on those who withdraw, without helping anyone. Neither Mimi Torres-Garcia nor S. Sullivan had open cases at the time they were withdrawn, although DCF had a history of contacts with both families.
As so many of you testified, the idea of mandating demonstrations of "equivalent instruction" is problematic at best and ridiculous at worst. This will create a chilling effect on the only option left to the disadvantaged, minorities and the disabled who are exercising their right to choose their children's education.
You can see the bill language HERE. Note: Everything in brackets is removed. The new bill language begins at Line 47. At line 56, they retained some of the language of the original 10-184.
Details of the bill's requirements can be seen in our prior alerts here and here.
ACTION:
1. PLEASE ATTEND the Committee Meeting on Wednesday. NOTE: The public may observe but is not allowed to speak during Committee Meetings.
Bring your signs, come to the meeting room, be seen in the LOB. The media needs to see the innocent families who will be affected. Several media outlets have been pushing the Democrat's agenda instead of asking real questions about the failings of DCF.
Take photos of your groups and post on social media. If the state controlled media won't publish the news, we will!
For parking information, click here.
For a map of the area, click here.
You can reserve a parking spot via SpotHero.
Do not be surprised if the bill is amended and substitute language is brought forward for a vote. This is what happened with SB 6. Although that substitute language was voted on March 5, it is still not available to the public on the cga website. Note that SB 6 has been sent to the Legislative Commissioner's Office for a fiscal analysis (remember that the first sections of the bill provide for a tax credit for parents, as well as free school lunches).
Those attending the hearing will not be able to see the substitute language but can gather what is involved by listening to the hearing. With SB 6, Republicans offered 2 amendments: one to remove Section 5 and one to call for a study for Section 5. Both amendments failed on party line votes
2.PLEASE CONTACT the members of the Education Committee to ask them to Vote No on HB 5468 . Yes, again. We must let them know that we are watching and will continue to pressure them to vote No.
Your message needn't be long - simply the bill number and a few reasons why you oppose any oversight of homeschoolers, which in this case includes unwarranted, unconstitutional and illegal surveillance and data collection.
You can find contact information for the Education Committee members HERE and the key members also listed below . If your legislator is an Education Committee member, it is particularly helpful to contact them. You can find your legislator HERE.
If you email put in the subject line: Vote No on HB 5468. If you are a Democrat, you can add that information as well. For example: "I am a Democrat and I oppose HB 5468."
Education Committee Key Members
Co-Chair S Doug McCrory -D mccrory@senatedems.ct.gov tel: 860.240.1453
Co-Chair R Jennifer Leeper -D jennifer.leeper@cga.ct.gov tel: 860.240.8753
Vice Chair R Kevin Brown D kevin.brown@cga.ct.gov tel: 860.240.8466
Vice Chair S Gary Winfield D- winfield@senatedems.ct.gov tel: 860.240.0475
This information will also be available on our website, our Facebook page, TEACH CT, and in our Facebook group, TEACH CT Homeschoolers..
Your involvement does make a difference! Large participation by homeschoolers contacting their legislators and coming out for a public hearing has preserved our homeschool freedoms in the past.
Finally, be in prayer! God hears our prayers!
Thank you for standing with us to protect parental rights and homeschooling freedoms in CT. Every voice and every body makes a difference!
In Prayer,
Pam Lucashu, Legislative Liaison
Rom 12:;12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
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