Who filed report: Pamela Budge

Bill Number: HB0288

Bill Title: EDUCATIONAL RECORDS PROTECTION AMENDMENTS

Bill Grade: A

Bill Sponsors: Rep. Craig Hall

Bill Summary:

The bill prohibits student education records containing personally identifiable info from being released to the press as part of a GRAMA request.

Does the bill increase/decrease local control?: Neither

How?:

Does it increase/decrease parental rights?: Neither

How?:

Does it help/hurt children?: Helps Children

How?: It protects children's personally identifiable information.

Any conflicts of interest?:

Other comments:

The bill sponsor explained the background of this bill during the committee meeting:
In 2012 during an investigation, the press sent a school district a GRAMA request to get written witness statements from a student who was a victim of an inappropriate relationship with a teacher. The district refused the GRAMA request initially because it would include releasing personally identifiable info, the media repealed, the Records Board sided with the media and the info was released. This bill would stop that from happening so the victim's identity can be protected. It also helps students feel more comfortable about reporting something that needs to be reported to the school/district without the added worry that their witness statement could be released to the media.