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House Bill 543 requires each county board of education to adopt a policy governing when public schools may disclose certain student information to a detoxification center or hospital for the purpose of substance abuse treatment. The bill defines both “directory information” and “personally identifiable information,” and it distinguishes between the two types of disclosures. Directory information may be disclosed when a student consents to substance abuse treatment under existing Health-General law, unless a parent or guardian has opted out through the county board’s process.
The bill also requires disclosure of personally identifiable information when a student is experiencing a health emergency event and the disclosure is necessary to protect the student’s health and safety. In addition, each county board’s policy must notify parents and guardians that schools may disclose directory information for substance abuse treatment in specified circumstances and must explain the opt-out process. The act would take effect July 1, 2025.
HB0543 would add a new section to the Education Article requiring county boards of education to create local policies on student information sharing for substance abuse treatment. It would affect public schools, county school systems, detoxification centers, hospitals, students, and parents or guardians by creating a limited pathway for disclosure of student information in treatment and emergency situations. The bill interacts with existing Health-General provisions on consent for treatment and health emergencies, and it would create a new statutory framework for notice and parental opt-out rights.
Based on the bill text and the available context, the measure appears to be framed as a student health and safety bill rather than a controversial policy change. No committee transcript or recorded votes were provided, so there is no documented debate to indicate strong support or opposition. The bill’s structure suggests an effort to balance access to emergency and treatment-related information with parental notice and opt-out protections.
The main point of potential contention is the balance between student privacy and rapid access to information needed for substance abuse treatment. Supporters would likely emphasize the need for schools to help connect students to detoxification or hospital care, especially in emergencies, while opponents may worry about disclosure of directory or personally identifiable information without direct parental approval in every case. Another possible issue is the opt-out framework: the bill allows parents or guardians to prevent disclosure of directory information, but it still mandates disclosure of personally identifiable information in health emergency circumstances when necessary to protect the student’s health and safety.