On Thursday, February 15th there will be a Senate hearing on SF610 to legalize Daycares denying enrollment to children with conscientious exemptions.
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- If you are a family impacted by daycare discrimination and would like to testify against this bill, please contact the committee administrator, ANNA.BURKE@MNSENATE.GOV, by 3 P.M. ON FEBRUARY 14TH! TOMORROW! Include the bill number (SF610), name, title or organization (if applicable), whether you support or oppose. Request a zoom link to testify. The hearing itself will be Thursday, February 15th, 8:30am. Duration of testimony will be at the discretion of the Committee Chair. *If you cannot verbally testify but have a story to share or pertinent information, you can submit a letter or documents to be dispersed to the committee to the same email by the same deadline.*
- If you want to share your opinion without participating in the hearing, you can email all the members of the committee directly through their email forms here.
- PLEASE commit to attend the 6th Annual Health & Parental Rights Capitol Day & Rally on February 21st! Lets put some faces to the issues and fill that rotunda to show them that freedom in Minnesota still matters and we are not going away. We have activities for the kids, a food truck, a unicorn mascot and more- bring the whole family!
MN law requires parents submit up to date vaccine records, medical exemption signed by a doctor or a notarized conscientious exemption for EVERY child upon enrollment in daycare (as well as public, charter, private or homeschool). Conscientious exemptions encompass a family’s religious or conscientious beliefs and are utilized when their beliefs prevent them from accepting one or more vaccine doses. It allows space for public health recommendations while respecting the diverse population and individual autonomy of our citizens.
BOTH STATE & FEDERAL LAWS UPHOLD THESE RIGHTS：
MN Administrative Rule 9502 states that “No caregiver shall discriminate in relation to admissions on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, religion, or sex.”
The Minnesota Human Rights Act also prohibits from discriminating based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, sexual orientation, or disability, or to fail to ensure physical and program access for disabled persons.
The USDA has a guideline that states that “in accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity (including gender expression), sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, family/parental status, income derived from a public assistance program, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs).” – This applies to the food reimbursement programs in which most daycares in Minnesota take part.
The DFL as recently as 2023 wished to establish a religious freedom day to affirm all this:
“WHEREAS, today we understand that religious freedom is a fundamental American and human right. We declare that religious freedom is a cornerstone of democracy. We declare that religious freedom is not a privilege for the few, but a right for all. We embrace this fundamental right as one that applies to people of all religious affiliations or beliefs and people of no religious affiliations or beliefs.”
SF610’s attempt to create a legal path for refusing admission to children who hold a conscientious exemption violates all of these and creates harm to Minnesota families.
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- That the entire CDC Childhood Schedule of recommended vaccines consisted 70+ vaccines (BEFORE they added Covid!)? Compare historical schedules in the link above.
- That there are 609 vaccines in various stages of development?
- That the Minnesota Department of Health can add vaccines to the school schedule without legislation or any kind of vote using Rule Making Authority?
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In a state where diversity is celebrated, religious freedom stands as a cornerstone of individual liberties. It is a fundamental human right that allows citizens to practice their beliefs without fear of discrimination or persecution. However, this freedom is not guaranteed and must be actively protected and preserved by all of us.
As we navigate through this challenging session, it is crucial for us to come together and advocate for the preservation of religious freedom for all. We must stand against any form of intolerance or infringement on the rights of individuals to express their faith freely. By raising awareness, engaging in dialogue, and supporting initiatives that promote religious tolerance and acceptance, we can create a more inclusive Minnesota for everyone.
Sincerely,
Stand for Health Freedom + Minnesotans for Health & Parental Rights