H.B. 397

             1     

STUDENT AND FAMILY PRIVACY AMENDMENTS

             2     
2014 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Dana L. Layton

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Deidre M. Henderson

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies provisions regarding the protection of student and family privacy.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    requires a school district or charter school to enact policies that prohibit:
             13              .    the administration to any student of a survey or assessment question without the
             14      prior consent of the student's parent or legal guardian if the purpose of the
             15      question is to cause the student to reveal certain information about the student or
             16      the student's family; or
             17              .    the offering of an inducement or incentive to a student if the student's parent or
             18      legal guardian provides prior written consent to the student revealing certain
             19      information; and
             20          .    makes technical amendments.
             21      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             22          None
             23      Other Special Clauses:
             24          None
             25      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             26      AMENDS:
             27           53A-13-302 , as last amended by Laws of Utah 2013, Chapter 335


             28     
             29      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             30          Section 1. Section 53A-13-302 is amended to read:
             31           53A-13-302. Activities prohibited without prior written consent -- Validity of
             32      consent -- Qualifications -- Training on implementation.
             33          (1) Policies adopted by a school district or charter school under Section 53A-13-301
             34      shall include:
             35          (a) prohibitions on the administration to a student of any psychological or psychiatric
             36      examination, test, or treatment, or any survey, analysis, or evaluation without the prior written
             37      consent of the student's parent or legal guardian, in which the purpose or evident intended
             38      effect is to cause the student to reveal information, whether the information is personally
             39      identifiable or not, concerning the student's or any family member's:
             40          [(a)] (i) political affiliations or, except as provided under Section 53A-13-101.1 or
             41      rules of the State Board of Education, political philosophies;
             42          [(b)] (ii) mental or psychological problems;
             43          [(c)] (iii) sexual behavior, orientation, or attitudes;
             44          [(d)] (iv) illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
             45          [(e)] (v) critical appraisals of individuals with whom the student or family member has
             46      close family relationships;
             47          [(f)] (vi) religious affiliations or beliefs;
             48          [(g)] (vii) legally recognized privileged and analogous relationships, such as those with
             49      lawyers, medical personnel, or ministers; [and] or
             50          [(h)] (viii) income, except as required by law[.];
             51          (b) prohibitions on the administration to a student of any survey question or assessment
             52      question without the prior written consent of the student's parent or legal guardian, in which the
             53      purpose or evident intended effect of the question is to cause the student to reveal information,
             54      whether the information is personally identifiable or not, concerning:
             55          (i) the economic or socioeconomic status of the student's family; or
             56          (ii) the possession or ownership of a firearm by a member of the student's family; and
             57          (c) a prohibition on offering an inducement or incentive to a student if the student's
             58      parent or legal guardian provides prior written consent for the student to reveal information


             59      listed in Subsection (1)(a) or (1)(b).
             60          (2) Prior written consent under Subsection (1) is required in all grades, kindergarten
             61      through grade 12.
             62          (3) Except as provided in Section 53A-11a-203 , the prohibitions under Subsection (1)
             63      shall also apply within the curriculum and other school activities unless prior written consent of
             64      the student's parent or legal guardian has been obtained.
             65          (4) Written parental consent is valid only if a parent or legal guardian has been first
             66      given written notice, including notice that a copy of the educational or student survey questions
             67      to be asked of the student in obtaining the desired information is made available at the school,
             68      and a reasonable opportunity to obtain written information concerning:
             69          (a) records or information, including information about relationships, that may be
             70      examined or requested;
             71          (b) the means by which the records or information shall be examined or reviewed;
             72          (c) the means by which the information is to be obtained;
             73          (d) the purposes for which the records or information are needed;
             74          (e) the entities or persons, regardless of affiliation, who will have access to the
             75      personally identifiable information; and
             76          (f) a method by which a parent of a student can grant permission to access or examine
             77      the personally identifiable information.
             78          (5) (a) Except in response to a situation which a school employee reasonably believes
             79      to be an emergency, or as authorized under Title 62A, Chapter 4a, Part 4, Child Abuse or
             80      Neglect Reporting Requirements, or by order of a court, disclosure to a parent or legal guardian
             81      must be given at least two weeks before information protected under this section is sought.
             82          (b) Following disclosure, a parent or guardian may waive the two week minimum
             83      notification period.
             84          (c) Unless otherwise agreed to by a student's parent or legal guardian and the person
             85      requesting written consent, the authorization is valid only for the activity for which it was
             86      granted.
             87          (d) A written withdrawal of authorization submitted to the school principal by the
             88      authorizing parent or guardian terminates the authorization.
             89          (e) A general consent used to approve admission to school or involvement in special


             90      education, remedial education, or a school activity does not constitute written consent under
             91      this section.
             92          (6) (a) This section does not limit the ability of a student under Section 53A-13-101.3
             93      to spontaneously express sentiments or opinions otherwise protected against disclosure under
             94      this section.
             95          (b) (i) If a school employee or agent believes that a situation exists which presents a
             96      serious threat to the well-being of a student, that employee or agent shall notify the student's
             97      parent or guardian without delay.
             98          (ii) If, however, the matter has been reported to the Division of Child and Family
             99      Services within the Department of Human Services, it is the responsibility of the division to
             100      notify the student's parent or guardian of any possible investigation, prior to the student's return
             101      home from school.
             102          (iii) The division may be exempted from the notification requirements described in
             103      [this] Subsection (6)(b)(ii) only if it determines that the student would be endangered by
             104      notification of his parent or guardian, or if that notification is otherwise prohibited by state or
             105      federal law.
             106          (7) [Local school boards] A local school board or charter school governing board shall
             107      provide inservice training for teachers and administrators within [their respective school
             108      districts] the school district or charter school on the implementation of this section.
             109          (8) The [board] State Board of Education shall provide procedures for disciplinary
             110      action for violations of this section.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 10-15-13 6:45 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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