Washington state judge blocks provision granting parents access to children’s medical records

A Washington state judge paused parts of a new “parents’ bill of rights” law after the American Civil Liberties Union and two other groups filed a lawsuit alleging it violates the state constitution.

Initiative 2081 consists of 15 rights that parents are entitled to regarding their children’s educational experience in the state’s public schools. It went into effect on June 6.

The ACLU of Washington, QLaw, and Legal Voice sued the state over the bill’s provision that granted parents the right to access medical and mental health information from schools about their children. Among those opposed to the legislation, there is a concern that sharing medical and mental health records with children's parents will “out” them if they are questioning their sexual orientation.