Source: http://www.gpmlaw.com/Updates-Events/Legal-Insights/70032/Education-Law-Update-Joint-Guidance-on-HIPAA-and-FERPA
Timestamp: 2017-01-17 07:02:21
Document Index: 478770289

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1232', 'art 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 160', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 164', '§ 164', '§ 164', '§ 164', '§ 160', '§ 99', '§ 1232', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 1232', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 164', '§ 164', '§ 164', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 99', '§ 164']

Education Law Update: Joint Guidance on HIPAA and FERPA - Gray Plant Mooty
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Print to PDFEmail Pagelegal insightsIndustryHigher EducationUpdates / EventsBlogsEventsLegal InsightsPress RoomMedia CoverageMedia ContactLynn ShelanderMarketing Communications ManagerMinneapolis, MNDirect: 612.632.3318lynn.shelander@gpmlaw.comvCardUpdates / Events SearchChoose From DateChoose To DateIndustryAdvertising & Promotions Agribusiness & FoodEnergyFood & BeverageHealth CareHigher EducationInsuranceManufacturingMedical Technology & Life SciencePrivate EquitySoftware & TechnologyWholesale & Retail DistributionPracticeBanking & Financial Services Bond Financing Commercial Lending Community Banking Consumer Finance & Regulation Payment Systems Reorganization & BankruptcyCorporate & Business Corporate Finance Entrepreneurial Services Seed Capital reVIEW Family-Owned Business We Know Family Business LLCs Mergers & Acquisitions Private Equity Securities & Corporate Governance Tax TechnologyEmployee Benefits & Executive Compensation Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOP)Family LawFranchise & Distribution Franchise Litigation & Dispute Resolution Franchise M&A International DevelopmentGaming LawGovernment RelationsHealth Law Health Care Litigation Health Care Regulatory Counseling Health Care TransactionsIndian Country & Regulatory AffairsIntellectual Property, Technology & Privacy Data Privacy Intellectual Property Litigation Software & Technology Licensing TrademarkInternational LawLabor, Employment & Higher Education Employment Law Higher Education Labor LawLitigation Alternative Dispute Resolution Antitrust & Trade Regulation Business Litigation Class Action Complex Financial Litigation Complex Investigations Electronic Discovery Employment Litigation Financial Services Litigation Health Care Litigation Insurance Counseling & Litigation Intellectual Property Litigation Investigations & White Collar Defense Personal Injury Products Liability Real Estate Litigation Shareholder Disputes Telecommunications Trust & Estate LitigationNonprofit & Tax-Exempt Organizations Social Enterprises & Social EntrepreneurshipReal Estate, Environmental Law & Land Use Eminent Domain & Regulatory Takings Environmental Law & Land Use Management Real Estate Development / ConstructionTrust, Estate & Charitable Planning Charitable Gift PlanningCategoryBlogsEventsLegal InsightsPress RoomMedia CoveragesearchclearEducation Law Update: Joint Guidance on HIPAA and FERPADecember 02, 2008 | AlertThe Department of Health and Human Services ("HHS") and the Department of Education ("DOE") have released joint guidance on the application of HIPAA and FERPA to student health records. HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and FERPA, the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act, each address the privacy of student health records. The guidance is meant to address the confusion expressed by some school administrators and student health care providers as to how each of the laws applied to student records containing health information.FERPA is a Federal law that protects the privacy of students' "education records." See generally 20 U.S.C. § 1232g; 34 C.F.R. Part 99. FERPA applies to educational agencies and institutions that receive funds under any program administered by the U.S. Department of Education. This includes most public schools and school districts and most private and public postsecondary institutions, including medical and other professional schools. Private and religious schools at the elementary and secondary level generally do not receive funds from the DOE and are, therefore, not subject to FERPA. The school itself must receive funds from a program administered by the DOE to be subject to FERPA.A school subject to FERPA may not have a policy or practice of disclosing student education records, or personally identifiable information from education records, without a parent or eligible student's written consent. See 34 C.F.R. § 99.30. However, there are several exceptions to this general consent rule. See 34 C.F.R. § 99.31. An "eligible student" is a student who is at least 18 years of age or who attends a postsecondary institution at any age. See 34 C.F.R. §§ 99.3 and 99.5(a). Under FERPA, parents and eligible students have the right to inspect and review the student's education records and to seek to have them amended in certain circumstances. See 34 C.F.R. §§ 99.10 – 99.12 and §§ 99.20 – 99.22. The term "education records" is broadly defined to mean those records that are: (1) directly related to a student, and (2) maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. See 34 C.F.R. § 99.3. At the elementary or secondary level, a student's health records, including immunization records, maintained by by a school, as well as records maintained by a school nurse, are "education records" subject to FERPA. In addition, records that schools maintain on special education students, including records on services provided to students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA"), are "education records" under FERPA. This is because these records are (1) directly related to a student, (2) maintained by the school or a party acting for the school, and (3) not excluded from the definition of "education records."At postsecondary institutions, medical and psychological treatment records of eligible students are excluded from the definition of "education records" if they are made, maintained, and used only in connection with treatment of the student and disclosed only to individuals providing the treatment. See 34 C.F.R. § 99.3. These records are commonly called "treatment records." An eligible student's treatment records may be disclosed for purposes other than the student's treatment, provided the records are disclosed under one of the exceptions to written consent under 34 C.F.R. § 99.31(a) or with the student's written consent under 34 C.F.R. § 99.30. If a school discloses an eligible student's treatment records for purposes other than treatment, the records are no longer excluded from the definition of "education records" and are subject to all other FERPA requirements. Most readers are familiar with the Privacy and Security Rules promulgated under HIPAA, so the background of those regulations will not be repeated here.When a school provides health care to students in the normal course of business, such as through its health clinic, it is also a "health care provider" as defined by HIPAA. If a school also conducts any covered transactions electronically in connection with that health care, it is then a covered entity under HIPAA. As a covered entity, the school must comply with the HIPAA Administrative Simplification Rules, including the Privacy and Security Rules.However, many schools, even those that are HIPAA covered entities, are not required to comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule because the only health records maintained by the school are "education records" or "treatment records" of eligible students under FERPA, both of which are excluded from coverage under the HIPAA Privacy Rule. See the exception at paragraph (2)(i) and (2)(ii) to what is considered "protected health information" ("PHI") at 45 C.F.R. § 160.103. In addition, the exception for records covered by FERPA applies both to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, as well as to the HIPAA Security Rule, because the Security Rule applies to a subset of information covered by the Privacy Rule (i.e., "electronic PHI").Frequently Asked Questions and AnswersThe following are answers to 16 FAQs included in the Guidance:1. Does the HIPAA Privacy Rule apply to an elementary or secondary school?Generally, no. In most cases, the HIPAA Privacy Rule does not apply to an elementary or secondary school because the school either: (1) is not a HIPAA covered entity or (2) is a HIPAA covered entity but maintains health information only on students in records that are by definition "education records" under FERPA and, therefore, is not subject to the HIPAA Privacy Rule.
2. How does FERPA apply to health records on students maintained by elementary or secondary schools?At the elementary or secondary school level, students' immunization and other health records that are maintained by a school district or individual school, including a school-operated health clinic, that receives funds under any program administered by the U.S. Department of Education are "education records" subject to FERPA, including health and medical records maintained by a school nurse who is employed by or under contract with a school or school district. Some schools may receive a grant from a foundation or government agency to hire a nurse. Notwithstanding the source of the funding, if the nurse is hired as a school official (or contractor), the records maintained by the nurse or clinic are "education records" subject to FERPA. Parents have a right under FERPA to inspect and review these health and medical records because they are "education records" under FERPA. See 34 CFR §§ 99.10 – 99.12. In addition, these records may not be shared with third parties without written parental consent unless the disclosure meets one of the exceptions to FERPA's general consent requirement. For instance, one of these exceptions allows schools to disclose a student's health and medical information and other "education records" to teachers and other school officials, without written consent, if these school officials have "legitimate educational interests" in accordance with school policy. See 34 CFR § 99.31(a)(1). Another exception permits the disclosure of education records, without consent, to appropriate parties in connection with an emergency, if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals. See 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(10) and 99.36.3. Does FERPA or HIPAA apply to elementary or secondary school student health records maintained by a health care provider that is not employed by a school?If a person or entity acting on behalf of a school subject to FERPA, such as a school nurse that provides services to students under contract with or otherwise under the direct control of the school, maintains student health records, these records are education records under FERPA, just as they would be if the school maintained the records directly. This is the case regardless of whether the health care is provided to students on school grounds or off-site. As education records, the information is protected under FERPA and not HIPAA. Some outside parties provide services directly to students and are not employed by, under contract to, or otherwise acting on behalf of the school. In these circumstances, these records are not "education records" subject to FERPA, even if the services are provided on school grounds, because the party creating and maintaining the records is not acting on behalf of the school. For example, the records created by a public health nurse who provides immunization or other health services to students on school grounds or otherwise in connection with school activities but who is not acting on behalf of the school would not be "education records" under FERPA. In such situations, a school that wishes to disclose to this outside party health care provider any personally identifiable information from education records would have to comply with FERPA and obtain parental consent. See 34 CFR § 99.30. With respect to HIPAA, even where student health records maintained by a health care provider are not education records protected by FERPA, the HIPAA Privacy Rule would apply to such records only if the provider conducts one or more of the HIPAA transactions electronically, e.g., billing a health plan electronically for his or her services, making the provider a HIPAA covered entity.4. Are there circumstances in which the HIPAA Privacy Rule might apply to an elementary or secondary school?There are some circumstances in which an elementary or secondary school would be subject to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, such as where the school is a HIPAA covered entity and is not subject to FERPA. As explained previously, most private schools at the elementary and secondary school levels typically do not receive funding from the U.S. Department of Education and, therefore, are not subject to FERPA. A school that is not subject to FERPA and is a HIPAA covered entity must comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule with respect to any individually identifiable health information it has about students and others to whom it provides health care. For example, if a private elementary school that is not subject to FERPA employs a physician who bills a health plan electronically for the care provided to students (making the school a HIPAA covered entity), the school is required to comply with the HIPAA Privacy Rule with respect to the individually identifiable health information of its patients. The only exception would be where the school, despite not being subject to FERPA, has education records on one or more students to whom it provides services on behalf of a school or school district that is subject to FERPA. In this exceptional case, the education records of only those publicly placed students held by the private school would be subject to FERPA, while the remaining student health records would be subject to the HIPAA Privacy Rule.5. Where the HIPAA Privacy Rule applies, does it allow a health care provider to disclose protected health information (PHI) about a troubled teen to the parents of the teen?In most cases, yes. If the teen is a minor, the HIPAA Privacy Rule generally allows a covered entity to disclose PHI about the child to the child's parent, as the minor child's personal representative, when the disclosure is not inconsistent with state or other law. For more detailed information, see 45 CFR § 164.502(g).In some cases, such as when a minor may receive treatment without a parent's consent under applicable law, the parents are not treated as the minor's personal representative. See 45 CFR § 164.502(g)(3). In such cases where the parent is not the personal representative of the teen, other HIPAA Privacy Rule provisions may allow the disclosure of PHI about the teen to the parent. For example, if a provider believes the teen presents a serious danger to self or others, the HIPAA Privacy Rule permits a covered entity to disclose PHI to a parent or other person(s) if the covered entity has a good faith belief that: (1) the disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen the threat and (2) the parent or other person(s) is reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat. The disclosure also must be consistent with applicable law and standards of ethical conduct. See 45 CFR § 164.512(j)(1)(i). In addition, the Privacy Rule permits covered entities to share information that is directly relevant to the involvement of a family member in the patient's health care or payment for care if, when given the opportunity, the patient does not object to the disclosure. Even when the patient is not present or it is impracticable, because of emergency circumstances or the patient's incapacity, for the covered entity to ask the patient about discussing his or her care or payment with a family member, a covered entity may share this information with the family member when, in exercising professional judgment, it determines that doing so would be in the best interest of the patient. See 45 CFR § 164.510(b).6. Where the HIPAA Privacy Rule applies, does it allow a health care provider to disclose protected health information (PHI) about a student to a school nurse or physician?Yes. The HIPAA Privacy Rule allows covered health care providers to disclose PHI about students to school nurses, physicians, or other health care providers for treatment purposes, without the authorization of the student or student's parent. For example, a student's primary care physician may discuss the student's medication and other health care needs with a school nurse who will administer the student's medication and provide care to the student while the student is at school.7. Does FERPA or HIPAA apply to records on students at health clinics run by postsecondary institutions?FERPA applies to most public and private postsecondary institutions and, thus, to the records on students at the campus health clinics of such institutions. These records will be either education records or treatment records under FERPA, both of which are excluded from coverage under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, even if the school is a HIPAA covered entity. See the exceptions at paragraphs (2)(i) and (2)(ii) to the definition of "protected health information" at 45 CFR § 160.103. The term "education records" is broadly defined under FERPA to mean those records that are: (1) directly related to a student and (2) maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. See 34 CFR § 99.3, "Education records." "Treatment records" under FERPA, as they are commonly called, are: records on a student who is eighteen years of age or older, or is attending an institution of postsecondary education, which are made or maintained by a physician, psychiatrist, psychologist, or other recognized professional or paraprofessional acting in his professional or paraprofessional capacity, or assisting in that capacity, and which are made, maintained, or used only in connection with the provision of treatment to the student, and are not available to anyone other than persons providing such treatment, except that such records can be personally reviewed by a physician or other appropriate professional of the student's choice. See 20 U.S.C. § 1232g(a)(4)(B)(iv); 34 CFR § 99.3, "Education records." For example, treatment records would include health or medical records that a university psychologist maintains only in connection with the provision of treatment to an eligible student, and health or medical records that the campus health center or clinic maintains only in connection with the provision of treatment to an eligible student. (Treatment records also would include health or medical records on an eligible student in high school if the records otherwise meet the above definition.) "Treatment records" are excluded from the definition of "education records" under FERPA. However, it is important to note, that a school may disclose an eligible student's treatment records for purposes other than the student's treatment provided that the records are disclosed under one of the exceptions to written consent under 34 CFR § 99.31(a) or with the student's written consent under 34 CFR § 99.30. If a school discloses an eligible student's treatment records for purposes other than treatment, the treatment records are no longer excluded from the definition of "education records" and are subject to all other FERPA requirements, including the right of the eligible student to inspect and review the records. While the health records of students at postsecondary institutions may be subject to FERPA, if the institution is a HIPAA covered entity and provides health care to nonstudents, the individually identifiable health information of the clinic's nonstudent patients is subject to the HIPAA Privacy Rule. Thus, for example, postsecondary institutions that are subject to both HIPAA and FERPA and that operate clinics open to staff, or the public, or both (including family members of students) are required to comply with FERPA with respect to the health records of their student patients, and with the HIPAA Privacy Rule with respect to the health records of their nonstudent patients.8. Under FERPA, may an eligible student inspect and review his or her "treatment records"?Under FERPA, treatment records, by definition, are not available to anyone other than professionals providing treatment to the student, or to physicians or other appropriate professionals of the student's choice. However, this does not prevent an educational institution from allowing a student to inspect and review such records. If the institution chooses to do so, though, such records are no longer excluded from the definition of "education records" and are subject to all other FERPA requirements.9. Under FERPA, may an eligible student's treatment records be shared with parties other than treating professionals?As explained previously, treatment records, by definition, are not available to anyone other than professionals providing treatment to the student, or to physicians or other appropriate professionals of the student's choice. However, this does not prevent an educational institution from using or disclosing these records for other purposes or with other parties. If the institution chooses to do so, a disclosure may be made to any party with a prior written consent from the eligible student (see 34 CFR § 99.30) or under any of the disclosures permitted without consent in 34 CFR § 99.31 of FERPA. For example, a university physician treating an eligible student might determine that treatment records should be disclosed to the student's parents. This disclosure may be made if the eligible student is claimed as a dependent for federal income tax purposes (see 34 CFR § 99.31(a)(8)). If the eligible student is not claimed as a dependent, the disclosure may be made to parents, as well as other appropriate parties, if the disclosure is in connection with a health or safety emergency. See 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(10) and 99.36. Once the records are disclosed under one of the exceptions to FERPA's general consent requirement, the treatment records are no longer excluded from the definition of "education records" and are subject to all other FERPA requirements as "education records" under FERPA.10. Under what circumstances does FERPA permit an eligible student's treatment records to be disclosed to a third-party health care provider for treatment?An eligible student's treatment records may be shared with health care professionals who are providing treatment to the student, including health care professionals who are not part of or not acting on behalf of the educational institution (i.e., third-party health care provider), as long as the information is being disclosed only for the purpose of providing treatment to the student. In addition, an eligible student's treatment records may be disclosed to a third-party health care provider when the student has requested that his or her records be "reviewed by a physician or other appropriate professional of the student's choice." See 20 U.S.C. § 1232g(a)(4)(B)(iv). In either of these situations, if the treatment records are disclosed to a third-party health care provider that is a HIPAA covered entity, the records would become subject to the HIPAA Privacy Rule. The records at the educational institution continue to be treatment records under FERPA, so long as the records are only disclosed by the institution for treatment purposes to a health care provider or to the student's physician or other appropriate professional requested by the student. If the disclosure is for purposes other than treatment, an eligible student's treatment record only may be disclosed to a third party as an "education record," that is, with the prior written consent of the eligible student or if one of the exceptions to FERPA's general consent requirement is met. See 34 CFR § 99.31. For example, if a university is served with a court order requiring the disclosure of the mental health records of a student maintained as treatment records at the campus clinic, the university may disclose the records to comply with the court order in accordance with the provisions of § 99.31(a)(9) of the FERPA regulations. However, the mental health records that the university disclosed for non-treatment purposes are no longer excluded from the definition of "education records" and are subject to all other FERPA requirements as "education records" under FERPA.11. Are all student records maintained by a health clinic run by a postsecondary institution considered "treatment records" under FERPA?Not all records on eligible students that are maintained by a college- or university-run health clinic are treatment records under FERPA because many such records are not made, maintained, or used only in connection with the treatment of a student. For example, billing records that a college- or university-run health clinic maintains on a student are "education records" under FERPA, the disclosure of which would require prior written consent from the eligible student unless an exception applies. See 34 CFR § 99.30. In addition, records relating to treatment that are shared with persons other than professionals providing treatment to the student are "education records" under FERPA. Thus, to the extent a health clinic has shared a student's treatment information with persons and for purposes other than for treatment, such information is an "education record," not a treatment record under FERPA.12. Does FERPA or HIPAA apply to records on students who are patients at a university hospital?Patient records maintained by a hospital affiliated with a university that is subject to FERPA are not typically "education records" or "treatment records" under FERPA because university hospitals generally do not provide health care services to students on behalf of the educational institution. Rather, these hospitals provide such services without regard to the person's status as a student and not on behalf of a university. Thus, assuming the hospital is a HIPAA covered entity, these records are subject to all of the HIPAA rules, including the HIPAA Privacy Rule. However, in a situation where a hospital does run the student health clinic on behalf of a university, the clinic records on students would be subject to FERPA, either as "education records" or "treatment records," and not subject to the HIPAA Privacy Rule.13. Where the HIPAA Privacy Rule applies, does it permit a health care provider to disclose protected health information (PHI) about a patient to law enforcement, family members, or others if the provider believes the patient presents a serious danger to self or others?The HIPAA Privacy Rule permits a covered entity to disclose PHI, including psychotherapy notes, when the covered entity has a good faith belief that the disclosure: (1) is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of the patient or others and (2) is to a person(s) reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat. This may include, depending on the circumstances, disclosure to law enforcement, family members, the target of the threat, or others who the covered entity has a good faith belief can mitigate the threat. The disclosure also must be consistent with applicable law and standards of ethical conduct. See 45 CFR § 164.512(j)(1)(i). For example, consistent with other law and ethical standards, a mental health provider whose teenage patient has made a credible threat to inflict serious and imminent bodily harm on one or more fellow students may alert law enforcement, a parent or other family member, school administrators or campus police, or others the provider believes may be able to prevent or lessen the chance of harm. In such cases, the covered entity is presumed to have acted in good faith where its belief is based upon the covered entity's actual knowledge (i.e., based on the covered entity's own interaction with the patient) or in reliance on a credible representation by a person with apparent knowledge or authority (i.e., based on a credible report from a family member or other person). See 45 CFR § 164.512(j)(4). For threats or concerns that do not rise to the level of "serious and imminent," other HIPAA Privacy Rule provisions may apply to permit the disclosure of PHI. For example, covered entities generally may disclose PHI about a minor child to the minor's personal representative (e.g., a parent or legal guardian), consistent with state or other laws. See 45 CFR § 164.502(b).14. Does FERPA permit a postsecondary institution to disclose a student's treatment records or education records to law enforcement, the student's parents, or others if the institution believes the student presents a serious danger to self or others?An eligible student's education records and treatment records (which are considered education records if used or made available for any purpose other than the eligible student's treatment) may be disclosed, without consent, if the disclosure meets one of the exceptions to FERPA's general consent rule. See 34 CFR § 99.31. One of the permitted disclosures is to appropriate parties, which may include law enforcement or parents of a student, in connection with an emergency if knowledge of the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals. See 34 CFR §§ 99.31(a)(10) and 99.36. There are other exceptions that apply to disclosing information to parents of eligible students that are discussed on the "Safe Schools & FERPA" Web page, as well as other information that should be helpful to school officials.15. Are the health records of an individual who is both a student and an employee of a university at which the person receives health care subject to the privacy provisions of FERPA or those of HIPAA?The individual's health records would be considered "education records" protected under FERPA and, thus, excluded from coverage under the HIPAA Privacy Rule. FERPA defines "education records" as records that are directly related to a student and maintained by an educational agency or institution or by a party acting for the agency or institution. 34 CFR § 99.3 ("education records"). While FERPA excludes from this definition certain records relating to employees of the educational institution, to fall within this exclusion, such records must, among other things, relate exclusively to the individual in his or her capacity as an employee, such as records that were created in connection with health services that are available only to employees. Thus, the health or medical records that are maintained by a university as part of its provision of health care to a student who is also an employee of a university are covered by FERPA and not the HIPAA Privacy Rule.16. Can a postsecondary institution be a "hybrid entity" under the HIPAA Privacy Rule?Yes. A postsecondary institution that is a HIPAA covered entity may have health information to which the Privacy Rule may apply not only in the health records of nonstudents in the health clinic, but also in records maintained by other components of the institution that are not education records or treatment records under FERPA, such as in a law enforcement unit or research department. In such cases, the institution, as a HIPAA covered entity, has the option of becoming a "hybrid entity" and, thus, having the HIPAA Privacy Rule apply only to its health care unit. The school can achieve hybrid entity status by designating the health unit as its "health care component." As a hybrid entity, any individually identifiable health information maintained by other components of the university (i.e., outside of the health care component), such as a law enforcement unit, or a research department, would not be subject to the HIPAA Privacy Rule, notwithstanding that these components of the institution might maintain records that are not "education records" or treatment records under FERPA. To become a hybrid entity, the covered entity must designate and include in its health care component all components that would meet the definition of a covered entity if those components were separate legal entities. (A covered entity may have more than one health care component.) However, the hybrid entity is not permitted to include in its health care component other types of components that do not perform the covered functions of the covered entity or components that do not perform support activities for the components performing covered functions. That is, components that do not perform health plan, health care provider, or health care clearinghouse functions and components that do not perform activities in support of these functions (as would a business associate of a separate legal entity) may not be included in a health care component. Within the hybrid entity, most of the HIPAA Privacy Rule requirements apply only to the health care component, although the hybrid entity retains certain oversight, compliance, and enforcement obligations. See 45 CFR § 164.105 of the Privacy Rule for more information.If you have any questions, please contact one of GPM's Higher Education attorneys.This article is provided for general informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or legal opinion on any specific facts or circumstances. You WORKING WITH GPMGray Plant Mooty is recognized as one of the leading corporate law firms in Minnesota and one of the top franchise firms in the world. Our roots go back to 1866. 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