Salem, Ore. - Today,the Oregon State Senate worked together to protect the rights of university and college students regarding medical, counseling, and mental health records. Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend) joined Senator Sara Gelser (D-Corvallis) and Representative Ann Lininger (D-Lake Oswego) as Chief Sponsors of Senate Bill (SB) 1558-A.
SB 1558-A passed by a unanimous vote of 28-0. The policy states that health records, mental health records, and counseling records of students are not considered "student records" by colleges or universities. The bill protects a student's right of confidentiality by not revealing records, except in the appropriate circumstance when that person, unaffiliated with the college or university, is lawfully authorized to disclose the information.
"I am pleased with the capability of Republicans to work with Democrats and unanimously pass legislation that will protect a student's medical privacy. This bill will allow students to pursue medical attention without the fear of repercussion, and it also assures the confidentiality of information shared between doctor and patient," said Knopp.
Senator Knopp serves as the Vice-Chair of the Senate Education Committee and as a member of the Senate Health Care and Workforce Committees. Senator Knopp was elected to his first term in the Oregon State Senate in November 2012. Senate District 27 encompasses the Central Oregon communities of Bend, Redmond, Sunriver, and Tumalo.
