Federal

PROTECT Kids Act

Source: Congress.gov · 683 words in original text

What This Bill Does

This bill requires elementary and middle schools that receive federal funding to get permission from parents before changing how a student's gender identity appears on school forms. Schools must also get parental permission before allowing a student to use different bathrooms or locker rooms based on gender identity.

Who It Affects

Public elementary schools and middle schools that receive federal funding under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (a law that provides money to schools). Minor students in elementary and middle school grades. Parents or guardians of those students.

Key Provisions

Schools receiving federal funds must obtain parental consent before changing a covered student's gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form. (Sec. 2(a)(1)) Schools receiving federal funds must obtain parental consent before allowing a covered student to change their sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms. (Sec. 2(a)(2)) A "covered student" means any minor who is an elementary school student or a student in any of the middle grades. (Sec. 2(b)(1))

What Changes

Schools that currently allow students to change gender markers, pronouns, or preferred names on school forms without parental permission would be required to obtain that permission first. Schools that currently allow students to use bathrooms or locker rooms aligned with gender identity without parental permission would be required to obtain that permission first. Schools that do not comply could lose federal funding.

Important Definitions

The bill uses definitions from another law (the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965) for the terms "elementary school," "middle grades," "parent," and "secondary school."

IB Union Calendar No. 599 118TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 736 [Report No. 118–706] To require elementary and middle schools that receive Federal funds to obtain parental consent before changing a minor child’s gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form or allowing a child to change the child’s sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 1, 2023 Mr. WALBERG introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Education and the Workforce OCTOBER 1, 2024 Additional sponsors: Mr. DUNN of Florida, Mr. MORAN, Mrs. MILLER of Illi- nois, Mrs. MCCLAIN, Mr. ALLEN, Mr. TIMMONS, Mr. SANTOS, and Mrs. HOUCHIN OCTOBER 1, 2024 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] [For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on February 1, 2023] VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:26 Oct 01, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6652 E:\BILLS\H736.RH H736 ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 2 •HR 736 RH A BILL To require elementary and middle schools that receive Fed- eral funds to obtain parental consent before changing a minor child’s gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form or allowing a child to change the child’s sex-based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms. VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:26 Oct 01, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6652 E:\BILLS\H736.RH H736 ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 3 •HR 736 RH Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Parental Rights Over 4 The Education and Care of Their Kids Act’’ or the ‘‘PRO- 5 TECT Kids Act’’. 6 SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT RELATED TO GENDER MARKERS, 7 PRONOUNS, AND PREFERRED NAMES ON 8 SCHOOL FORMS. 9 (a) REQUIREMENT.—As a condition of receiving funds 10 under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 11 1965 (20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.), a public elementary school 12 and secondary school that receives funds under such Act 13 shall obtain parental consent before changing a covered stu- 14 dent’s— 15 (1) gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name 16 on any school form; or 17 (2) sex-based accommodations, including locker 18 rooms or bathrooms. 19 (b) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 20 (1) COVERED STUDENT.—The term ‘‘covered stu- 21 dent’’ means a minor who is— 22 (A) an elementary school student; or 23 (B) a student in any of the middle grades. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:26 Oct 01, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H736.RH H736 ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS 4 •HR 736 RH (2) ESEA TERMS.—The terms ‘‘elementary 1 school’’, ‘‘middle grades’’, ‘‘parent’’, and ‘‘secondary 2 school’’ have the meanings given the terms in section 3 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education 4 Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801). 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:26 Oct 01, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H736.RH H736 ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:26 Oct 01, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6203 E:\BILLS\H736.RH H736 ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS Union Calendar No. 599 118TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. R. 736 [Report No. 118–706] A BILL To require elementary and middle schools that re- ceive Federal funds to obtain parental consent before changing a minor child’s gender markers, pronouns, or preferred name on any school form or allowing a child to change the child’s sex- based accommodations, including locker rooms or bathrooms. OCTOBER 1, 2024 Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com- mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:26 Oct 01, 2024 Jkt 049200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6651 Sfmt 6651 E:\BILLS\H736.RH H736 ssavage on LAPJG3WLY3PROD with BILLS

Important: This plain English summary was generated by AI and is provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Always consult the official bill text on Congress.gov or a qualified attorney for legal matters.