An Act To Prevent the Disclosure of Student Social Security Numbers
Maine Legislature, Session 125, LD 0506
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: PETERSON, KNAPP, MARTIN, O'CONNOR, GOODALL, COURTNEY, CROCKETT, DAVIS, GOODE, HARVELL, NELSON
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6005, 20-A MRSA §15689-B

Legislative Document 
No. 506 
H.P. 399 
House of Representatives, February 14, 2011 
An Act To Prevent the Disclosure of Student Social Security 
Numbers 
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed. 
HEATHER J.R. PRIEST 
Clerk 
Presented by Representative PETERSON of Rumford. 
Cosponsored by Representatives: KNAPP of Gorham, MARTIN of Eagle Lake, O'CONNOR 
of Berwick, Senator GOODALL of Sagadahoc, Senator COURTNEY of York and 
Representatives: CROCKETT of Bethel, DAVIS of Sangerville, GOODE of Bangor, 
HARVELL of Farmington, McFADDEN of Dennysville, NELSON of Falmouth. 
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows: 
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §6005, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 448, §1, is amended to 
read: 
§6005.  Maine Statewide Longitudinal Data System 
The department shall develop and maintain the Maine Statewide Longitudinal Data 
System, a continuing program of information management, the purpose of which is to 
compile, maintain and disseminate information concerning the educational histories, 
placement, employment and other measures of success of participants in state educational 
programs.  The commissioner may require a school administrative unit to collect and 
report individual student social security numbers to implement the Maine Statewide 
Longitudinal Data System only if additional federal funding is received to expand the 
department's kindergarten to grade 12 longitudinal data system existing as of the effective 
date of this section to a statewide system. 
1.  Placement information.  A project conducted by the department that requires 
placement information must use information provided through the Maine Statewide 
Longitudinal Data System.  The department shall implement an automated system that 
matches the social security numbers of former participants in state educational and 
training programs with information in the files of state and federal agencies that maintain 
educational, employment and United States armed services records and shall implement 
procedures to identify the occupations of those former participants whose social security 
numbers are found in employment records. 
2.  Dissemination of education records.  The Maine Statewide Longitudinal Data 
System may not make public any information that could identify an individual or the 
individual's employer.  The department must ensure that the purpose of obtaining 
placement information is to evaluate and improve education programs or to conduct 
research for the purpose of improving education services.  Education records must be 
managed in compliance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 
1974, 20 United States Code, Section 1232g, referred to in this section as "FERPA."  
Personally identifiable information in an education record that is not directory 
information may be released to other agencies within State Government, including 
postsecondary institutions, only under a signed memorandum of understanding requiring 
compliance with FERPA. 
3.  Notification and consent.  If the commissioner requires a school administrative 
unit to collect and report individual social security numbers pursuant to section 15689-B, 
subsection 7, the school administrative unit must notify parents in the annual notice 
required under FERPA that the data is being collected and used for longitudinal data 
purposes and must request the parent to provide written consent to use the child's social 
security number for the collection of longitudinal data.  The parental notification must 
include an explanation of the parent's right that the child's social security number is not 
required as a condition of enrollment and that the child's social security number may not 
be used for longitudinal data purposes unless the parent provides prior written consent.  
When a student attains 18 years of age, the written consent must be obtained from the 
student, and the rights accorded to the parent before the student attained 18 years of age 
are then accorded to the student. 
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §15689-B, sub-§7, as amended by PL 2009, c. 448, §2, is 
further amended to read: 
7.  Required data; subsidy payments withheld.  A school administrative unit shall 
provide the commissioner with information that the commissioner requests to carry out 
the purposes of this chapter, according to time schedules that the commissioner 
establishes.  For the purposes of the Maine Statewide Longitudinal Data System 
established pursuant to section 6005, the commissioner may require a school 
administrative unit to collect and report individual student social security numbers.  The 
commissioner may withhold monthly subsidy payments from a school administrative unit 
when information is not filed in the specified format and with specific content and within 
the specified time schedules.  If the school administrative unit files the information in the 
specified format, the department shall include the payment of the withheld subsidy in the 
next regularly scheduled monthly subsidy payment. 
SUMMARY 
This bill repeals the provisions authorizing the Commissioner of Education to require 
local school units to request and report student social security numbers to the Department 
of Education.