(March 27, 2001) Legislators are considering a bill that would require both public and private schools to release to military recruiters the names, addresses, and home phone numbers of all students in grades 11 and 12. Education officials would have 60 days to act upon a recruiter's request.

After a March 26 hearing, the House Civil Law Committee held over HF1677 for possible inclusion in its omnibus bill.

Under the bill, sponsored by Rep. Tom Hakbarth (R-Cedar), schools would be required to give parents and students the opportunity to prohibit the dissemination of such information.

The data would be available "only for the purpose of providing information to students about military service, state and federal veterans' education benefits, and other career and educational opportunities provided by the military.

Capt. Richard Clifton Jr., a St. Paul Army recruiter, said all public schools in his district now afford him "at least quarterly" access to students on campus, but that at least one private school completely bars his presence.

Other Military stories

Return to today's Session Daily