The Families' Rights and Responsibilities Act establishes that parents have a fundamental constitutional right to direct the upbringing, education, and health care of their children without government interference. The bill prohibits federal, state, and local government from substantially burdening this parental right unless the government can demonstrate a "compelling governmental interest of the highest order" and show that its action is the least restrictive way to achieve that interest. The legislation specifically protects parents' rights to direct their child's education, moral and religious upbringing, and all medical decisions, including access to medical records. The bill applies to all federal laws and government actions, both existing and future, and allows parents to sue in federal or state courts or before administrative bodies for violations, with the potential to recover attorney's fees. An exception carved out in the bill prevents parents from invoking these protections if their actions would result in serious physical injury to the child or end the child's life.
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