DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 373 Engrossed 2025 Regular Session Hughes
Abstract: Requires the La. Workforce Commission to conduct an annual return on investment
analysis on industry-based credentials earned in high school and provides for the collection
and sharing of certain student data for this purpose.
Proposed law requires the La. Workforce Commission to perform an annual return on investment
(ROI) analysis for the purpose of evaluating the relationship between industry-based credentials
earned by high school students and the students' attainment of high-wage, high-demand jobs aligned
to workforce priorities. Requires the commission to submit a written report to the House and Senate
education and labor committees and the State Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education by Feb.
first annually and prohibits the commission from including any student's personally identifiable
information (PII) in the report.
Present law prohibits any employee of a public school system from providing a student's PII to any
person or public or private entity. Provides exceptions to this prohibition and authorizes sharing
student information under certain circumstances. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law requires the governing authority of each public high school, not later than the beginning
of senior year and for the sole purpose of evaluating state and federal programs that prepare students
for postsecondary education, workforce training, and employment, to collect social security numbers
of each student pursuing a diploma. Proposed law includes the proposed law ROI analysis in this
purpose, requires such governing authorities to share the social security numbers, matched to the
corresponding student names and unique student identification numbers, with the state Dept. of
Education and for the department to share them with the commission, and requires the department
and the commission to hold the numbers confidential except for this purpose.
Present law requires the student's permission for the collection of his social security number if he
has reached the age of majority or parental permission if he has not and requires schools to provide
a form for granting such permission. Proposed law removes present law.
Present law prohibits an official or employee of a public school system from requiring the collection
of certain student information, including social security numbers, unless voluntarily disclosed by the
parent or legal guardian. Proposed law removes the prohibition on requiring the collection of social
security numbers and otherwise retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 17:3914(N)(1)(a); Adds R.S. 17:3138.13; Repeals R.S. 17:3914(C)(1)(j) and
(N)(1)(c)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original bill:
1. Require La. Workforce Commission rather than La. Workforce Investment Council to
conduct the ROI analysis.
2. Provide that social security numbers shared with the department by school governing
authorities be matched to the corresponding student names and unique student
identification numbers.