SUPPORT HB 1040: Keep Critical Race Theory Out of Our Schools

Summary:
Prohibits school corporations from subjecting any student to obscene material harmful to minors. Requires school corporations to provide all student grade 6 through 12 recitations concerning the system of government in Indiana and the United States. Provides that socialism, Marxism, communism, totalitarianism, or other similar political systems are incompatible with and conflict with the principles of freedom upon which the United States was founded. These systems are prohibited from being taught to students as compatible with the principles of freedom upon which the United States was founded. Provides that a parent of a student or emancipated student may opt out of a face mask or face covering requirement in a public school. Disallows the governor, state agency, local health board, or school corporation from requiring a student to quarantine against COVID-19 or other communicable disease if the student is asymptomatic. Forbids school corporations from requiring immunization against COVID-19, as a condition of a student’s employment, attendance, or other participation within the school. Provides that only an act of the Indiana General Assembly may modify or expand the list of communicable diseases that require documentation of immunity. Provides that the Indiana Attorney General may assess a civil penalty against a school for unauthorized disclosure of a student’s education record. The Attorney General may also assess a civil penalty against a school if the school requires a student to participate in any medical inspection, medical treatment, mental health assessment, mental health service, psychiatric or psychological examination or test, or psychiatric or psychological treatment without the informed written consent of the student’s parent. Also allows the parent of student or protected right petitioner to bring a civil action for certain violations. Provides that third party vendors that administer personal analysis, evaluation, or surveys to students that reveals or attempts to affect a student’s attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings, may not maintain or collect responses in a way that would identify the responses or results of an individual student. Requires schools to post, in a manner accessible to the public, certain information regarding materials and educational activities. Repeals provisions requiring the Department of Education develop children’s social, emotional, and behavioral health plan.

Analysis:
Over the past few years, Indiana’s families have seen schools continuing down a leftward trajectory in their ‘educational’ activities. House Bill 1040 helps alleviate some of these left-learning tendencies.  For example, the bill prevents students from being indoctrinated with liberal philosophies. The legislation accomplishes this by preventing socialism, Marxism, communism, totalitarianism, and other similar political systems from being taught as compatible with the freedoms upon which American was founded. Ronald Reagan once said, “Throughout the developing world, people are rejecting socialism because they see that it doesn’t empower people, it impoverishes them.” House Bill 1040 helps protect our children from being exposed to these evils of socialism and the evils of other related political systems. One need only look at our ally, Israel, to see the benefits of rejecting socialism. In January 1983, the United States offered Israel a $1.5 billion grant to bail the nation out of a failed socialistic system. Shortly after adopting capitalistic policies, Israel’s inflation tumbled from 450% down to just 20%, a budget deficit of 15% of GDP decreased to zero, and Israeli investment increased by 600%, transforming the failing socialistic nation into a key player in our high-tech world. Capitalism trumps socialism, and we must ensure Hoosier children are taught this fact.

Furthermore, the legislation puts health care back into the hands of the parents, by allowing parents to opt their students out of face mask or face covering requirements. In addition, the bill prevents school corporations from requiring students to receive the COVID-19 vaccine to attend school or participate in extracurricular activities. Furthermore, the legislation allows the Indiana Attorney General to assess a civil penalty against a school if the school requires a student to participate in any medical inspection, medical treatment, mental health assessment, mental health service, psychiatric or psychological examination or test, or psychiatric or psychological treatment without the informed written consent of the student’s parent. The bill also empowers parents to bring civil suits against schools for certain violations. All of these actions help hold school corporations accountable and would allow parents to make the best decisions regarding their own family’s health and safety.

Additionally, HB 1040 ensures that school corporations handle student’s personal information and identities with care. The legislation accomplishes this goal by providing that third party vendors who administer personal analysis, evaluation, or surveys to students that reveals or attempts to affect a student’s attitudes, habits, traits, opinions, beliefs, or feelings, may not maintain or collect responses in a way that would identify the responses or results of an individual student. This tenant helps prevents schools from targeting students based on their personal beliefs or convictions. Overall, as aforementioned, this tenant ensures that school corporations handle student’s personal information with care and respect.

Finally, this bill encourages transparency within Indiana’s public school system. Parents should be confident that their child is receiving a world-class education. Parents should also know the curriculum their child is being taught is appropriate and educational. House Bill 1040 assists with parent’s ability to assess the curriculum their child is being taught. The bill requires schools to post, in a manner accessible to the public, information regarding materials and educational activities. This tenant allows parents the ability to ensure their child is getting the education they need in a way that is appropriate and effective.

Conclusion:
It is imperative the Indiana General Assembly pass this important piece of legislation. Indiana must ensure Hoosier children are being brought up and trained in the way they should go. Liberal ideologies and philosophies have no place in that upbringing. House Bill 1040 prevents these liberal influences from infiltrating Indiana schools. Overall, this legislation helps ensure Hoosier children receive an effective education that prepares them to be a successful, contributing member of American society.

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SUPPORT SB 11: Display of historical documents with religious significance

Executive Summary:
Senate Bill 11 states that historical documents with religious themes are allowed to be displayed on state property. Several documents are mentioned as examples: the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the Northwest Ordinance, and Washington’s Farewell Address. The bill makes it so that these and other documents could lawfully be displayed at government buildings like county courthouses or the statehouse without their religious content disqualifying them. In order to be displayed, a document must have been donated, purchased with donated funds, or reprinted from a document meeting those criteria. The document must also be accompanied by a statement explaining its historical significance.

Analysis:
Our nation is at a crossroads where once obvious tenants of the American way are being openly questioned. Is America fundamentally good? Is religion helpful to developing a moral people? Senate Bill 11 is a step Indiana can take to remind Hoosiers of the answers to these questions. Promoting the public display of historical documents with religious themes in government buildings would help remind lawmakers and all citizens alike of the values that our state should live by. In our Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson proudly wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” There are some who would wish this document to never be displayed in the Indiana Statehouse or a county courthouse. To them, its religious themes and the very fact that it speaks to the inherent good of America’s founding make it the last thing they’d want in a place of government. This erroneous way of thinking about our nation is the very reason Senate Bill 11 would have a positive impact.

Conclusion:
A better understanding of our founding values would give answers to many of the issues causing so much tension in our culture today. With the passage of Senate Bill 11, important documents from America’s past would be able to be displayed in Indiana’s government buildings in order to guide us in the present. Religion has always been integral to our nation’s prosperity, and we must remember that truth if the future is to be bright. Senate Bill 11 makes the statement that American history and its inescapable religious elements are something to be proud of and must remain at the forefront of government decisions.

IFI supports SB 11.

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SUPPORT SB 34: Protecting minors from harmful treatments and ideologies

Executive Summary: Senate Bill 34 would protect minors from the harmful effects of transgender ideology. The bill would make it illegal for health care professionals to perform any surgeries on minors which are part of an attempt at gender transition. It would also be illegal for minors to be prescribed hormones and puberty blocking drugs. Additionally, health care professionals would be barred from attempting to reinforce or change a minor’s views on their own sexual attractions behaviors, or identity. Those who violate this law would be at risk of criminal penalties and punishment from their licensing board.

Analysis:
Senate Bill 34 is a common sense step in the face of an extremely dangerous and saddening situation. Abigail Shrier, author of Irreversible Damage, wrote, “nearly 70% of kids who experience childhood gender dysphoria — and are not affirmed or socially transitioned — eventually outgrow it.” Ignoring this fact completely, not to mention the fact of biological reality, major medical societies like the American Medical Association insist on “gender affirming care.” Such “care” often involves permanent alterations to healthy body parts through surgery and dangerous hormonal changes through various drugs. Even Riley Hospital in Indiana says on their website, “We will assist your child as they make a decision about whether to transition into a different gender and will offer care for each stage of transition.” Senate Bill 34 is a critical step in removing this extreme view of gender and the expanding industry that accompanies it from the pediatric field in Indiana.

Conclusion:
Doctors have an ethical duty to do no harm to their patients. In light of this current situation where the truth is clashing with popular ideologies of the day, medical professionals must choose the truth. Children must be protected from the consequences of transgender ideology which tells them that boys can be girls, girls can be boys, and that it’s all up to your feelings. This is a terrible and confusing weight to place on the minds of young children, but those who oppose it are called hateful. Telling children the truth about themselves and raising them in line with it is anything but hateful. Medical professionals must align themselves with this reality and stop participating in the lies and harms of the gender transition industry. Senate Bill 34 will ensure that doctors in Indiana listen to parents and to the truth when caring for children, not to radical politicians and theorists in the universities.

IFI supports SB 34.

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SUPPORT SB 31: Greater freedom of choice regarding COVID vaccinations

Executive Summary:
Senate Bill 31 would allow for greater freedom of choice regarding the COVID vaccine, particularly in relation to employment. The bill would prevent an employer from requiring one of their employees from getting vaccinated if doing so could be a significant health risk or if it violates the employee’s religious beliefs. The same liberties would be given to prospective employees. The bill would also make it so that employees can not be discriminated against by their employer for their vaccination status through the altering of their compensations or benefits. Civil action could also be brought against an employer for an alleged violation.

Analysis:
Senate Bill 31 respects the liberties of employees, ensuring one’s job security is not affected by a medical or religious determination. Without this bill, many Hoosiers may be forced to choose between obeying their conscience or holding down a stable job. If this is the case, something has gone fundamentally wrong in the way our state provides liberty. Senate Bill 31 would go a long way to maintain medical and religious freedom in our state. People with concerns about the unvaccinated are still free to take whatever COVID precautions they feel are necessary. However, one person’s concern over COVID or support for vaccinations does not give them the right to override the religious convictions of others. Additionally, by extending the same protections to prospective employees as it does to current employees, Senate Bill 31 could encourage some who have been out of a job due to worries over employer’s COVID requirements to reenter the workforce.

Conclusion:
It is a fundamental American and Hoosier value that each individual person is the best judge of what is best for them, particularly concerning their own body and the tenets of their faith. If someone chooses not to get the COVID vaccinations for health or religious reasons, they should not have to fear losing their job. Many government and scientific leaders have of their own accord made the decision that their recommendations hold more value than personal religious convictions. With Senate Bill 31, the Indiana General Assembly gives proper respect to Hoosiers who could face health risks or religious violation from taking the COVID vaccine.

IFI supports SB 31.

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SUPPORT SB 114: Prohibiting vaccination status discrimination

Executive Summary:
Senate Bill 114 would put choices regarding COVID vaccinations back in the hands of individual Hoosiers by cracking down on vaccine discrimination. This bill would make it so that no one can be denied service at any public place like restaurants, concert venues, or transportation based on their vaccination status. It would also ensure that no employees have to fear their job security based on their choice regarding vaccines. Additionally, Senate Bill 114 would prohibit workplaces and universities from providing incentives to be vaccinated, in turn discriminating against those who are not vaccinated.

Analysis:
Senate Bill 114 would make it so that in Indiana, vaccination is truly an individual decision. Each person should be able to evaluate their own age, risk factors, religious beliefs, and opinions on the merits of a medical treatment when deciding whether or not to obtain it. Requirements that one receives a vaccine against their will are not consistent with American freedoms.

Some believe that businesses should have the right to treat employees and customers differently due to vaccination status and that universities can do the same regarding students. Many entities have done just that, telling employees, customers, and students that they want nothing to do with them unless they acquiesce and receive the COVID vaccine. Such mandates force individuals to choose between keeping their livelihood or maintaining their medical freedom, a choice that citizens of a free nation or state should never have to make. Senate Bill 114 would return health decisions to the individual, taking it out of the hands of government and business.

Conclusion:
American liberty rests on the idea that each individual knows what is best for them and that one size does not fit all. It is in line with this that some people have chosen to get vaccinated while others have not. People in both categories must not be treated differently by the government, businesses, employers, or universities. Hoosiers rely on these entities, and access to them must not be determined based on what should be an individual health decision. Senate Bill 114 will end the unnecessary uniformity that so many government officials and other actors have tried to force onto Indiana and will ensure that personal choices stay personal.

IFI supports SB 114.

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