Texas Lice Law Requires Schools to Notify Parents of Lice in Classroom

A new Texas Lice Law requires schools to notify parents their child has lice. It also requires schools to notify the parents of other children in the same classroom.

Under the rules of Senate Bill 1566, there are three requirements.

1. The parents of a child with head lice must be notified within 48 hours of a school nurse or administrator becoming aware that a child has head lice.
2. The parents of a child in the same classroom as a child with head lice must be notified within 5 school days.
3. The notice (physical or electronic) must include the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the lice treatment and prevention of lice.

If you’re worried about having to shield yourselves or your children from embarrassment, fear not. The Texas Lice Law clearly states that a child will not be identified by name.

Sec.38.031. NOTICE OF LICE. (a) The Board of Trustees of an independent school district shall adopt a policy requiring school nurse of a public elementary school who determines or otherwise becomes aware that a child enrolled in the school has lice shall provide written or electronic notice of that fact to:

(1) the parent of the child with lice as soon as practicable but not later than 48 hours after the administrator or nurse, as applicable, determines or becomes aware of that fact; and
(2) the parent of each child assigned to the same classroom as the child with lice not later than the fifth school day after the date on which the administrator or nurse, as applicable, determines or becomes aware of that fact.
(b) The notice provided under Subsection (a):
(1) must include the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the treatment and prevention of lice; and
(2) if the notice is provided under Subsection (a)(2), may not identify the child with lice.
(c) The commissioner shall adopt rules as necessary to implement this section in a manner that complies with federal law regarding confidentiality of student medical or educational information, including the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.) and the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (20 U.S.C. Section 1232g), and any state law relating to the privacy of student information.