Colleges and universities will be able to notify parents in cases where a student has a mental health emergency.
State law allows higher education institutions to disclose what would otherwise be private data when a student has a “safety emergency” that warrants contacting their parents. Effective Aug. 1, 2010, a new law will clarify that mental health emergencies, such as suicide attempts or psychotic episodes, qualify under the law. Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed it April 10.
Rep. Andy Welti (DFL-Plainview), who sponsors the law with Sen. Sharon Erickson Ropes (DFL-Winona), said the National Alliance on Mental Illness brought the proposal forward. He said if a student is injured in a car accident or receives a physical injury, colleges and universities can notify parents; however, some parents are concerned that mental health emergencies do not meet the current threshold.
The law does not involve disclosure of medical records — only the right to disclose that an emergency has taken place.
HF2766/
SF2425*/CH230
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