On February 3, 2022, Associate Policy Director Brianna January submitted testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee in opposition to HB 226 – Public Schools – Self–Contained Special Education Classroom – Use of Video Recording Devices. This bill would require each county board of education, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, to install a video recording device in each self-contained special education classroom; providing for the installation, operation, notification, and use of a video recording device and the viewing, use, and confidentiality of system recordings; requiring the school administration to notify the appropriate law enforcement agency on receipt of a complaint of alleged neglect or abuse of a student under certain circumstances; etc.

From the MACo testimony: 

HB 226 would impose a costly, burdensome mandate —without accompanying State support — for school systems and county governments to install and maintain video recording devices in any self-contained classroom in which the majority of students are special education students. Under state law, counties would have no choice but to endure these costs for county boards of education. These costs would compete for limited local funds against school construction, public safety, roadway maintenance, and other essential public services. As counties undergo broad-based re-thinking of education priorities under the Kirwan Blueprint legislation, HB 226 would introduce a substantial new mandated cost fully outside the resources provided for in the Blueprint

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