HB 262 -- SCHOOL RECORDS

SPONSOR:  Linton

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass by consent" by the Committee
on Civil and Administrative Law by a vote of 9 to 0.

This bill requires school districts to restrict access to
personally identifiable student records to authorized school
district employees and persons otherwise authorized by state or
federal law.  The records can be made available to persons not
employed by the district only upon written authorization from
the student's parent, the student if age 18 or older, or in
response to a subpoena.  The bill does not apply to records
relating to the reporting requirements imposed on juvenile
officers (Section 167.115, RSMo) or principals, teachers, and
school employees (Section 167.117), or the reports required by a
school district's disciplinary policy pursuant to Section
160.261.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that students have a right to
confidentiality regarding their school records.  The bill allows
for the exchange of information between schools, law enforcement
officials, and the courts.  The bill merely brings the state law
in line with federal law.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Linton; and National
Association of Social Workers.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Richard Smreker, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated November 26, 2001 at 11:43 am