Rep. Terri Collins has introduced HB97, the State Longitudinal Database bill (companion bill is SB153). The Alabama Department of Labor has promised the bill does not allow for collection of private and personal student information, but the bill itself contradicts the department. It describes, “security clearance requirements for individuals with access to personally identifiable information.”
The bill’s sponsor describes its purpose “is to meet the demands of industry”. It is not the duty of government to train workers for industry or to track students into state selected jobs. Regardless, there is no reason important enough to turn over any of your child’s personal, non-academic information. The 4th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution reads, ” The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
There are no real protections outlined in the bill. Only current state and Federal law are mentioned. Dependence is placed upon FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act), which is a federal act that was gutted in December 2011. With FERPA, data collection is now available to third parties. The comprehensive Student and Parent Privacy Protection bill could have provided significant protection, but Rep. Collins refused even to bring it before her Education Policy Committee for discussion last year.
HB97 acknowledges that breaches will occur as it instructs the advisory board to develop “plans for responding to security breaches.”
See Eagle Forum of Alabama Executive Director Deborah Love’s opinion piece on HB97 here and here.
Protecting student privacy rights should come first when making public policy and legislative decisions. Please encourage your legislators to vote NO on HB97 and its companion Senate Bill, SB 153.
You may reach your House member by calling 334-242-7600 and asking for their office. The Senate number is 334-242-7800.
To find your legislators, visit https://69b.1e9.myftpupload.com/find-your-legislators
