79R4100 SLO-F

By:  Branch                                                       H.B. No. 827



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the designation of research centers to evaluate state 
or federally funded education programs and the sharing of student 
data.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 1, Education Code, is amended by adding 
Section 1.005 to read as follows:
	Sec. 1.005.  DESIGNATION OF RESEARCH CENTERS; SHARING OF 
STUDENT DATA.  (a)  Any state agency that is involved in providing 
elementary, secondary, or higher education services in this state 
may designate one or more research centers for the purpose of 
evaluating any elementary, secondary, or higher education 
institution or school district that is supported in whole or in part 
by state or federal funds.
	(b)  Any state agency described by Subsection (a) may share 
identifiable individual student data with any other state agency 
described by Subsection (a) and any research center designated by 
the agency under Subsection (a) as allowed under 20 U.S.C. Section 
1232g(b)(1).  The agency is not required to obtain the consent of 
each individual educational institution or school district to share 
the data if:
		(1)  the agency and the research center have entered 
into a memorandum of understanding that establishes that the 
research is being conducted by the center on behalf of or as 
authorized by the agency;
		(2)  the agency and the research center have signed a 
confidentiality agreement that adequately protects confidential 
student records; and
		(3)  the agency retains jurisdiction over all 
confidential data and research conducted by the research center for 
the agency.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.