CHEC is currently monitoring a bill (HB16-1164) that was introduced to the Colorado House of Representatives on January 28, 2016 and is scheduled for hearing on February 25th.

While the details regarding the total impact of this bill are still being collected, it appears that HB16-1164 presents a potential threat to the privacy and freedom of all homeschool families and a direct threat to families who are homeschooling under non-public school law (i.e. enrolled in private schools which allow homeschooling).

Here is what we need you to do:

1. Read the bill here.

2. Read more about HB16-1164 from HSLDA attorney Mike Donnelly:

Excerpt from HSLDA’s e-lert, sent on 2/10/16.

House Bill 1164 would impact your data privacy by requiring a parent or student to submit immunization information to a centralized government-controlled database at the Department of Public Health instead of being retained by the individual school as is the case now. The department would also be empowered to require the use of specific forms and would also publicly post exemption rates for each school.

Today parents provide their child’s school documentation that the child has been immunized or whether the parent has a religious or personal belief opposed to immunizations. Changing the law as H.B. 1164 proposes would centralize recordkeeping of personal information and create additional bureaucratic hurdles for parents conscientiously opposed to immunizations.

I encourage you to contact your legislator to express your opinion on this matter. HSLDA does not oppose or support any particular view with respect to whether parents immunize their children. We do oppose increasing government control over parental decision-making or centralizing health information in big government-run databases—this bill would do both.

3. Contact your legislator and express your opinion regarding this bill.

4. Finally, MOST IMPORTANT: Plan to attend the hearing at the State Capitol scheduled on February 25th.

CHEC will be providing additional information regarding this bill in the days to come so please keep an eye on your email inbox (sign up for our email alerts here).

We also urge you to register now to attend the Homeschool Day at the Capitol on April 8th. A strong showing of homeschoolers from around the state will confirm with legislators our value for continued family liberty.

Thank you for your help with preserving homeschool freedom in Colorado!

Sincerely,

Steve Craig
Executive Director
Christian Home Educators of Colorado