Parental Rights in Alaska

Alaska Parental Rights News

Busy in the State House and in the U.S. Senate

February 7, 2017

In This Issue: Report: Busy in the State House and in the U.S. Senate By the Numbers: State and National Legislation Go Deeper: Two-Thirds Vote to Pass the Parental Rights Amendment ••••••••••••••••••••••••• Report: Busy in the State House and in the U.S. Senate ParentalRights.org has been busy in the state house and in the U.S.…

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Alaska State Law

At Risk

Alaska does not have a state statute that explicitly defines and protects parental rights as fundamental rights.

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Alaska Courts

"Strict Scrutiny" Applied to Parental Rights

In Treacy v. Municipality of Anchorage, 91 P.3d 252 (Alaska 2004), the Alaska Supreme Court held, citing Meyer v. Nebraska, 262 U.S. 390 (1923), "that parents have a fundamental right to control the upbringing of their children." (at 268) The court found that "[b]ecause the municipality's interest is sufficiently compelling, and because the ordinance presents the least restrictive alternative for meeting all of its stated goals," it met the "strict scrutiny standard" and therefore did not violate that fundamental right. (at 269)

However, this precedent is subject to change.