The Division of Motor Vehicles will not allow a parent or legal guardian to review a minor's driving record. AS 28.15.151(f) declares that "information and records under this section are confidential and private." An exception in the law allows DMV to provide a certified abstract of an individual's driving record to a municipal, state, or federal administrative or judicial agency. However, no exception exists to allow parental access.

Denying parents this information is unfair and nonsensical given that state law requires a parent or legal guardian to sign the minor's application for a driver's license. Furthermore, state law holds the parent or guardian who signed the application liable for any damage caused by negligence or willful misconduct of the minor while operating a motor vehicle [AS 28.15.071(b)].

A driving record includes information that could help parents determine whether their child is driving safely: accident reports; convictions of vehicle, driver, and traffic offenses; and any actions taken upon the driver's license, such as suspension.

SB 27 also requires school districts to make copies of a minor child's school record available to parents. Although most districts in Alaska voluntarily make school records available, parents have no explicit right under state law to review this information. However, it is the federal government's policy to deny funding to any educational agency or institution that denies parental access to school records. SB 27 adds clarity to Alaska law by clearly stating that parents have this right.

Policymakers are constantly urging parents to become more involved in the lives of their children. By removing a legal impediment, SB 27 takes a small step toward helping parents meet their responsibilities.

Testimony before the Senate Health, Education, and Social Services (HESS) Committee on SB 27