The measure in question is AB 495, aka the Family Preparedness Act of 2025. The bill expands the definition of a caregiver of a minor to include a “nonrelative extended family member.”
Greg Burt of California Family Council told AFN "it's very dangerous" and "a direct threat to the rights of parents" in California.
He explains that this bill gives individuals custody-like care over any child in California if they fill the Caregiver Authorization Affidavit, which gives someone the ability to make medical and educational decisions for a child on behalf of a parent.
“The parent is not required to sign this form or to know that it's being used by another individual. It is a direct threat to the rights of parents to make medical and educational decisions for kids," Burt says.
Burt adds that this is happening for the purpose of dealing with issues regarding immigration. Parents who are here illegally have children, and when they get taken by ICE, and kids are left with no one to care for them.
"But it's completely blowing up the whole idea of parents making educational and medical decisions for their children, so it's very dangerous. So far, we have not been able to get the legislators to pay attention to us, and now it's the last two weeks of the legislative session and they will be voting on this very soon," informs Burt.
AFN reported previously that a Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel in Chino Hills was also concerned about the bill, calling for protest at the capitol in Sacramento. California Family Council says thousands of parents, pastors, attorney, and community leaders commuted to the rally and listened to speakers talk about the dangerous consequences the bill has towards parents’ rights and child safety.
Burt predicts that lawsuits will be filed if the bill passes and is signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom (D-California). Furthermore, he says that the bill is illegal and completely violates the parental rights guaranteed by the Constitution and upheld by the Supreme Court.
“The Supreme Court just recently had a decision regarding the opt-outs for parents who object to curriculum being pushed on them by school districts, and the Supreme Court said 'yes, schools, you must offer opt-outs for curriculum that violates parental rights, the religious belief that parents are trying to teach their own children,” says Burt.
Burt concludes by saying that, if parents have the right to decide their children’s curriculum, they have the right to decide where their children go to school and what medical care they receive.
