An Act To Protect Teachers' Privacy While Delivering Remote Instruction
Maine Legislature, Session 130, LD 0864
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Sponsors: DODGE, RAFFERTY, CROCKETT, HEPLER, MILLETT, ROBERTS, SALISBURY, CURRY
Amends: 20-A MRSA §6804-A

Legislative Document
No. 864
H.P. 632
House of Representatives, March 8, 2021
An Act To Protect Teachers' Privacy While Delivering Remote 
Instruction
Reference to the Committee on Education and Cultural Affairs suggested and ordered 
printed.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative DODGE of Belfast.
Cosponsored by Senator RAFFERTY of York and
Representatives: CROCKETT of Portland, HEPLER of Woolwich, McCREIGHT of 
Harpswell, MILLETT of Cape Elizabeth, ROBERTS of South Berwick, SALISBURY of 
Westbrook, Senator: CURRY of Waldo.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §6804-A is enacted to read:
§6804-A.  Remote instruction
1. Definitions.  For the purposes of this section, unless the context otherwise indicates, 
the following terms have the following meanings.
A.  "Remote instruction" means instruction provided using audio or video transmission 
of a teacher or of a classroom with a teacher and participating students.  "Remote 
instruction" includes real-time transmissions and recorded sessions.
B. "Unauthorized person" means any person who has not been authorized by a public 
or private school to participate in remote instruction.
2. Access; unauthorized persons prohibited.  An unauthorized person may not 
access, view, listen to, disrupt or participate in remote instruction.  This subsection does 
not prohibit incidental viewing of or listening to a session of remote instruction by a person 
in the same location as a student located outside the classroom who is participating in the 
remote instruction or by a parent or guardian of a student as necessary to assist a student in 
accessing remote instruction. A student may access the remote instruction only for the 
educational purpose intended by the teacher. 
3. Recording; prohibition. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary and 
except as authorized by a public or private school for the purposes of remote instruction, a 
person may not make an audio, video or digital recording, including taking a photograph, 
of a real-time transmission of remote instruction and may not photograph, record, copy, 
distribute or retransmit a recorded session of remote instruction or any part thereof without 
the express written consent of the public or private school.
4. Violation.  A person who violates this section commits a civil violation for which a 
fine of not less than $200 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits an unauthorized person from accessing, viewing, listening to, 
disrupting or otherwise participating in remote instruction for elementary or secondary 
school students and provides that a student may access the remote instruction only for the 
purpose intended by the instructor.
This bill also prohibits a person from making any audio, video or digital recording of 
a real-time transmission of remote instruction and prohibits a person from photographing, 
recording, copying, distributing or retransmitting a recorded session of remote instruction 
or any part thereof without the express written consent of the public or private school.
This bill provides that a violation of these provisions is a civil violation for which a 
fine of not less than $200 nor more than $500 may be adjudged.