SRC-MWN C.S.S.B. 1743 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1743
By: Nelson
Education
4/27/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

The federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA)
protects education records maintained by educational institutions. FERPA
allows release of such personally identifiable information without parental
consent only under certain circumstances and for certain purposes. C.S.S.B.
1743 amends the Texas Education Code to authorize a school district to
choose to designate any or all items it desires as "directory information,"
subject to release in compliance with FERPA parental consent law and the
Texas Public Information Act. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 552.114, Government Code, by amending Subsection
(a) and adding Subsection (c), as follows: 

(a) Provides that information is exempted from the requirements of Section
552.021 if it meets certain criteria. 

(c) Authorizes a public school district to designate as directory
information any or all information defined as directory information by the
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section
1232g(a)) and its subsequent amendments. Requires a district to comply with
the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section
1232(g)) and its subsequent amendments before releasing any designated
directory information. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2001.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1. Differs from the As Filed version by replacing previously
proposed Chapter 26, Education Code, with new proposed Section 552.114,
Government Code. 

SECTION 2. New effective date.