An Act Regarding the Rights of Parents to Withdraw Their Children from Public School Classes or Activities That Include Certain Controversial Viewpoints
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1518
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: THORNE
Amends: 20-A MRSA §4710-C

Legislative Document
No. 1518
H.P. 973
House of Representatives, April 5, 2023
An Act Regarding the Rights of Parents to Withdraw Their 
Children from Public School Classes or Activities That Include 
Certain Controversial Viewpoints
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative THORNE of Carmel.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §4710-C is enacted to read:
§4710-C.  Parental rights regarding controversial viewpoints
1.  Definition.  As used in this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, 
"controversial viewpoints" means any ideas that espouse, promote, advance or compel 
students to believe any of the following concepts:
A.  Individuals of one race, color, sex or national origin are morally superior to 
individuals of another race, color, sex or national origin;
B.  An individual, by virtue of the individual's race, color, sex or national origin, is 
inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, whether consciously or unconsciously;
C.  An individual's moral character or status as either privileged or oppressed is 
necessarily determined by the individual's race, color, sex or national origin;
D.  Individuals of one race, color, sex or national origin cannot and should not attempt 
to treat others without regard to race, color, sex or national origin;
E.  An individual, by virtue of the individual's race, color, sex or national origin, bears 
responsibility for, or should be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment 
because of, actions committed in the past by other individuals of the same race, color, 
sex or national origin;
F.  An individual, by virtue of the individual's race, color, sex or national origin, should 
be discriminated against or receive adverse treatment to achieve diversity, equity or 
inclusion;
G.  An individual should feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of 
psychological distress on account of the individual's race, color, sex or national origin; 
and
H.  Virtues such as merit, excellence, a strong work ethic, fairness, neutrality, 
objectivity and racial color blindness are racist or sexist or were created by individuals 
of a particular race, color, sex or national origin to oppress individuals of another race, 
color, sex or national origin.
2. Removal from class or activity. A parent is entitled to remove the parent's child 
temporarily from a class or other school activity if the class or school activity conflicts with 
the parent's religious or moral beliefs or if the parent considers the class or school activity 
to espouse, promote, advance or compel the parent's child to adopt controversial 
viewpoints.  A parent temporarily removing a child from a class or other school activity 
under this section must deliver to the teacher of the parent's child a written statement 
authorizing the removal of the child from the class or other school activity.  A parent is not 
entitled to remove the parent's child from a class or other school activity to avoid a test or 
to prevent the child from taking a subject for an entire semester.
SUMMARY
This bill allows a parent to remove the parent's child temporarily from a class or other 
school activity if the class or school activity conflicts with the parent's religious or moral 
beliefs or if the parent considers the class or school activity to espouse, promote, advance 
or compel the parent's child to adopt controversial viewpoints as defined in the bill.