LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
2002 IN REVIEW & PRIORITIES FOR 2003
Federal Regulations and Potential State Threats
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With the new Congress and state legislatures about to reconvene, it's an ideal opportunity to highlight some of the Kids in the Know successes from the past year and begin to identify likely challenges in the coming year.
2002: A Year in Review
More than 1,500 privacy-related bills were introduced in Washington and state houses during the past two years, according to the Direct Marketing Association. Throughout the year, Kids in the Know has been vigilant to protect our members and ensure that children and families are not denied access to important services and information.
Federal Regulations. Throughout 2002, the Department of Education has been focused on writing the regulations needed to implement the comprehensive education bill signed into law in January. While Kids in the Know successfully blunted the potentially negative impact of a student-privacy provision included in the new law, the next critical step is to ensure that the Department of Education writes appropriate rules. Kids in the Know has been working with the Department to ensure that the regulations are not harmful to our members.
Illinois. Last Spring, Kids in the Know successfully derailed an Illinois bill that would have prohibited the sale or purchase of personal information about children without parental consent.
Working with the sponsor, Rep. Jeffery Schoenberg, after Kids in the Know explained that his legislation would have a negative impact on beneficial programs and opportunities for young people and their families, he withdrew the legislation and expressed interest in working with Kids in the Know to craft more appropriate legislation.
Virginia. Kids in the Know rallied colleges and universities to modify a far-reaching bill that would have required written consent from parents to allow students to complete any survey or questionnaire that may result in the sale of personal information. The bill was successfully amended to protect college-recruitment and other education lists.
California. Kids in the Know also helped to successfully blocked passage of a bill in the California Assembly that would have established excessive opt-out notification requirements that would have a detrimental impact on unsolicited direct mail.
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