§ 40-15-4 — Parental and state responsibilities

A. Parents have joint primary responsibility for the well-being of their family. Parents have the primary responsibility to: (1) ensure that their children have adequate food, shelter, health care and a healthy environment; (2) support their children in all ways possible to grow up to be responsible, caring members of society; (3) ensure that their children receive quality education both in and out of school to prepare them for active and productive adult lives; (4) protect their children from the serious dangers of narcotics, alcohol and other harmful substances; and (5) protect their children from all forms of exploitation harmful to any aspect of their welfare. B. The state has a responsibility to develop plans to: (1) make available to families free, quality public primary and secondary education; (2) provide public safety services so that family members are safe in their homes, schools, workplaces and recreational settings; (3) make available social service programs that support vulnerable families and protect spouses and children in danger of physical or serious emotional harm; (4) develop programs that build on the strengths of families and connect them with community resources; (5) provide parents with access to the training and support they need to raise their children, function effectively as parents and play a key role in helping preschool and growing children learn; and (6) assist parents in carrying out their primary responsibility of providing for the well-being of their family.

Legislative History

Laws 2005, ch. 68, § 4.