SRC-AMY S.B. 448 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 448 By: Williams Education 3/5/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, federal law authorizes a school district to release directory information if a parent does not provide written notice, every school year, to the school prohibiting them from doing so. The amount of paperwork a parent has to fill out at the beginning of the school year makes it easy for the parent to unintentionally overlook this requirement. As proposed, S.B. 448 requires a school district to print selected sections of the Federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, and an explanation thereof to be printed in bold 14 point text, with a box and signature line at the bottom of the page that allows the parent to oppose having school directory information made available to a third party. 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 Chapter 26, Education Code, by adding Section 26.013, as follows: Sec. 26.013. STUDENT DIRECTORY INFORMATION. (a) Requires a school district to provide to the parent of each student, at the beginning of each school year or at enrollment, a written explanation of the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 regarding the release of information and written notice of the right of the parent to object to the release of directory information under the same Act. (b) Requires the notice required under Subsection (a)(2) to contain certain information and language in at least 14-point boldface type. (c) Defines "directory information" as having the meaning assigned by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974. SECTION 2. Provides that this Act begins with the 2003-2004 school year. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.