Prohibits a school from sharing a student's personally identifiable information relative to illness or disease with the Dept. of Health for purposes of the Sanitary Code or any other purpose without parental consent (Item #42)
Impact
The bill's enforcement would significantly impact existing protocols within public schools regarding health data reporting. Currently, schools are mandated to report certain health conditions under the Sanitary Code; however, HB82 introduces a barrier to accessing individual health data by requiring parental consent. This shift not only modifies the processes schools must follow but also sets a precedent for parental rights concerning the dissemination of their children's health information, fostering a more protective approach toward student data.
Summary
House Bill 82, introduced by Representative Amedee, aims to strengthen the privacy rights of students by prohibiting schools from sharing personally identifiable information related to a student's health with the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) without explicit parental consent. This legislative measure responds to concerns about the handling of sensitive health data in educational environments, ensuring that parents retain control over the disclosure of their children's health information. The bill allows for the sharing of aggregate data pertaining to reportable diseases, but prohibits individual-level disclosures without authorization.
Sentiment
Discussions around HB82 have highlighted a supportive sentiment towards enhancing student privacy among parents and guardians, particularly amid heightened awareness of data protection issues. Proponents view the bill as aligning with the values of parental rights and safeguarding children in educational settings. However, some concerns have been raised regarding the implications for public health efforts, as the inability to share detailed health data could hinder the state's ability to monitor and respond to health conditions in schools effectively.
Contention
Notable points of contention in the legislative debate centered on the balance between protecting student privacy and the public health needs that require data sharing. Critics argued that while protecting privacy is crucial, too rigid a framework could impede timely public health responses, especially in cases of outbreaks of communicable diseases in schools. The tension between safeguarding personal information and the necessity of public health reporting remains at the forefront of discussions regarding the effective implementation of HB82.
Prohibits a school from sharing a student's personally identifiable information relative to illness or disease with the Dept. of Health for purposes of the Sanitary Code or any other purpose without parental consent (Item #42)
Provides relative to sharing of student information for the purpose of administering the pandemic electronic benefits transfer (P-EBT) program (Item #28)
Provides for the sharing of limited student information for the purpose of administering certain federal food assistance programs and for certain postsecondary education purposes
Relating to restricting the use of covered information, including student personally identifiable information, by an operator of a website, online service, online application, or mobile application for a school purpose.
Relating to restricting the use of covered information, including student personally identifiable information, by an operator of a website, online service, online application, or mobile application for a school purpose.
Relating to the protection of personally identifiable student information and the use of covered information by an operator or educational entity; authorizing a civil and administrative penalty.
Provides for limitations and prohibitions on the collection and sharing of student information and the administration of assessments, surveys, and other instruments that solicit certain student information
Relating to certain restrictions on the use of personally identifiable information pertaining to a public school student by an operator or educational entity.