GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1989

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 567

Short Title:  School Records/Missing Children.	(Public)
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Sponsors: Representatives Stam; Justus, Walker, and Esposito.
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Referred to:  Human Resources.
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March 14, 1989

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE FLAGGING OF SCHOOL RECORDS, THE NOTIFICATION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WHEN A REQUEST FOR A COPY OF A FLAGGED RECORD IS MADE, AND TO REQUIRE SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO OBTAIN PRIOR SCHOOL RECORDS OR VERIFY THE VALIDITY OF SCHOOL RECORDS IN ORDER TO ASSIST IN THE LOCATION OF MISSING CHILDREN.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  Article 29 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 115C-403.  Flagging and verification of student records; notification of law enforcement agencies.
(a)	Upon notification by a law enforcement agency or the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons of a child's disappearance, the superintendent of a local administrative unit or his designee shall flag or mark the record of any child who is currently or was previously enrolled in a school of that unit and who is reported as missing.  The flag or mark shall be made in such a manner that when a copy of or information regarding the record is requested, school personnel are alerted to the fact that the record is that of a missing child.
Before providing a copy of the school record or other information concerning the child whose record is flagged pursuant to this section, the superintendent or his designee shall notify the agency that requested that the record be flagged of every inquiry made concerning the flagged record, and shall provide a copy to the agency of any written request for information concerning the flagged record.
(b)	When any child transfers from another school system located outside the county, the receiving school shall, within 30 days of the child's enrollment, obtain the child's record from the school from which the child is transferring.  If the child's parent, custodian, or guardian provides a copy of the child's record from the school from which the child is transferring, the receiving school shall, within 30 days of the child's enrollment, request written verification of the school record by contacting the school or institution named on the transferring child's record.  Any information received indicating that the transferring child is a missing child shall be reported to the North Carolina Center for Missing Persons.
Sec. 2. This act shall become effective August 15, 1989, and shall apply to the records of children who are reported missing or who transfer from other school systems on or after that date.