SRC-JRN S.B. 521 75(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 521
By: Bivins
Education
3-3-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, an employee of a school district is limited to certain
instances in which he or she is allowed to make a videotape or voice
recording of a child without parental consent.  Some parents have
expressed the concern that they may be affected by this law and that
certain videotape or voice recording activities in a classroom should be
allowed.  This bill provides that parental consent is not required for
videotaping or recording, if the purpose is related to the evaluation of
an educator, media coverage of the school, or another purpose approved by
the board of trustees of the school district. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 521 provides that parental consent is not required for
videotaping or recording, if the purpose is related to the evaluation of
an educator, media coverage of the school, or another purpose approved by
the board of trustees of the school district. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 26.009(b), Education Code, to set forth purposes
not requiring parental consent for using a child in a videotape or
recording of a child's voice, if the purpose is related to the evaluation
of an educator, used for media coverage, or is another purpose approved by
the board of trustees. 

SECTION 2. Provides that this Act applies beginning with the 1997-1998
school year. 

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.