Massachusetts Bill Regarding Surveys in Public School (H 256)

H 256 would require a public elementary or secondary school to obtain written parental consent prior to requesting or requiring a student to submit to a survey, analysis, or evaluation concerning personal issues including, but not limited to:

• emotional and psychological concerns or issues, whether concerning the student or his family (including mental health screenings);
• sexual behavior and attitudes;
• illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behaviors;
• feelings of victimization;
• suicide attempts or ideation, or self-abuse;
• birth control or abortion;
• critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondent has family relationships;
• legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those with lawyers, physicians, therapists, and ministers;
• political affiliations; or
• income.

This would apply to all such surveys, whether from a state or federal agency.

If passed, school personnel may be forced to inadvertently out LGBTQ students to their parents.

Related Legislation

Similar to H 2883.

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