Title 20EducationRelease 119-73

§1161l–4 Guidance on mental health disclosures for student safety

Title 20 › Chapter CHAPTER 28— - HIGHER EDUCATION RESOURCES AND STUDENT ASSISTANCE › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER IX— - ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS › Part Part L— - Student Safety and Campus Emergency Management › § 1161l–4

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary must keep giving guidance to colleges and universities about when they may share a dependent student's education records with a parent or legal guardian if the student poses a significant risk of harm, including suicide, homicide, or assault. The guidance also says a school that in good faith shares information under this law and FERPA is not legally liable. The Secretary must report to the authorizing committees within 180 days after August 14, 2008.

Full Legal Text

Title 20, §1161l–4

Education — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The Secretary shall continue to provide guidance that clarifies the role of institutions of higher education with respect to the disclosure of education records, including to a parent or legal guardian of a dependent student, in the event that such student demonstrates that the student poses a significant risk of harm to himself or herself or to others, including a significant risk of suicide, homicide, or assault. Such guidance shall further clarify that an institution of higher education that, in good faith, discloses education records or other information in accordance with the requirements of this chapter and section 1232g of this title (commonly known as the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974”) shall not be liable to any person for that disclosure.
(b)The Secretary shall provide an update to the authorizing committees on the Secretary’s activities under subsection (a) not later than 180 days after August 14, 2008.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2009—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 111–39 substituted “commonly known as the ‘Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974’ ” for “the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2009 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 111–39 effective as if enacted on the date of enactment of Pub. L. 110–315 (Aug. 14, 2008), see section 3 of Pub. L. 111–39, set out as a note under section 1001 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

20 U.S.C. § 1161l–4

Title 20Education

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73