Public schools in Texas would be required to tell parents or guardians of students any and all information the school has on their child if requested under Senate Bill 242 proposed by Sen. Konni Burton, R-Fort Worth. Filed in November, SB 242 is expected to be discussed in the 85th legislative session that began Tuesday.

A media firestorm spawned following reports of the possibility of LGBT students being outed to their parents or guardians against their will. However, Burton says the bill is intended to strengthen a parent’s communication with a school.

“The proposed bill does absolutely nothing to change this present mechanism for a parent’s right to know,” Burton said on her website. “The bill does, however, strengthen the existing expectation that when a parent contacts a school and inquires about their child, they will receive accurate information and not be punished by local policies that while well-intended, do more harm than good.”

Like many school districts across the state, Frisco ISD officials are taking a wait and see approach to SB 242.

“School districts across the state have concerns regarding the proposed senate bill,” Frisco ISD director of guidance and counseling Brenda Berry said in an email. “It is a sensitive area and its impact could be far reaching. We will continue to monitor to see what progresses.”

Although there is debate concerning certain types of school information SB 242 would allow parents to have, it wouldn’t extend to all situations.

“It’s also imperative to note that existing law, as well as my proposed bill, have an exception for abuse or neglect, which clearly calls for reporting without the knowledge or consent of the parent,” Burton said on her website. “Currently, a teacher may decide when and how to proactively reach out to a parent about anything of importance to them, which is how it should work.”

Also included in the bill are clauses that outline “grounds for discipline” for “an attempt by an employee of a school district to conceal or withhold, or to encourage or coerce a child to withhold, information or general knowledge concerning the child from the child’s parent.”

“It is important to note that in existing state law any attempt by a school district employee to encourage or coerce a child to withhold information from the child’s parent is grounds for discipline,” Burton said on her website. “Many people have expressed dismay about a parent’s right to know anything or that teachers may face discipline for undermining a parent’s right to know, however, these provisions are already the law in Texas.”