Danville Area Community College
Procedures for Compliance with the Illinois Student Optional Disclosure
of Private Mental Health Information Act
In accordance with Board Policy 3023.0 and the Illinois Student Optional Disclosure of Private Mental
Health Act (Public Act 99-278), a student’s mental health information is considered private in nature
and will not be released to a third party without that student’s prior written consent, unless otherwise
provided by other state or federal laws.
A student who desires to authorize disclosure of certain private mental health information about
himself or herself to a designated person for purposes set out in the Act must complete a Student
Optional Disclosure of Private Mental Health Information form, which shall be made available on links
included on the College’s Admissions webpage and the Current Students webpage. This form must be
submitted to the Director of Admissions & Records/Registrar in the Admissions & Records Office
(Vermilion Hall). The form will remain valid until the student revokes his or her authorization by
notifying the College in writing that he or she is withdrawing this authorization.
In the event that a qualified examiner, who is employed by the College in that capacity, determines
that a student poses a clear danger to the student or others, the qualified examiner will immediately
contact the Director of Admissions & Records/Registrar or her designee to determine if that student
has completed and provided the College with a Student Optional Disclosure of Private Mental Health
Information form designating a person to whom the College is authorized to disclose this information.
If the student has filed a Student Optional Disclosure of Private Mental Health Information form, the
qualified examiner will, as soon as possible, but no more than 24 hours after making the determination
described above, attempt to contact and notify the designated person that the qualified examiner has
made a determination that the student poses a clear, imminent danger to themselves, or others. The
College shall document any and all attempts of the qualified examiner to reach the designated person.
Danville Area Community College does not typically employ individuals who have the credentials to
serve as “qualified examiners” within the meaning of the Act, who are in a position to make the mental
health determination described above. Nor is the College required to employ such individuals.
Therefore, the College cannot assure a student that it will be able to disclose the student’s condition to
the person that the student has designated to receive confidential mental health information about
him or her in the circumstances provided for in the Act.
The Dean of Student Services will periodically review whether the College employs a “qualified
examiner” who is in a position to make the determinations provided for in the Act.
Finally, consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the College may, in
situations where a health or safety emergency exists, disclose confidential personally identifiable
information about a student without his or her consent, to any individuals the College reasonably
determines to be in need of that information for public health and safety reasons, subject to the
conditions and limitations set out in FERPA.
