SCS/SB 645 - This act modifies provisions relating to services for certain students. RECORDINGS OF CERTAIN MEETINGS (Section 162.686) Under this act, no school district or charter school shall prohibit a parent or legal guardian of a student from audio recording any meeting held under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), or the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Any audio recording make by a parent or legal guardian shall be the property of the parent or guardian, and shall not be considered to be a public record. School districts and charter schools shall not require parents to notify the school district or charter school of such parent's intent to record a meeting more than 24 hours in advance. No school district or charter school employee who reports any violation of this act shall be subject to discharge, retaliation, or any other adverse employment action for making such report. GIFTED CHILDREN (Section 162.720) Under current law, when a sufficient number of children are determined to be gifted and their development requires programs or services beyond the level of those ordinarily provided in regular public school programs, districts may establish special programs for such gifted children. Approval of such programs shall be made by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education based upon project applications submitted by July 15 of each year. Under this act, this provision shall apply to all school years ending on or before June 30, 2022. Under this act, beginning July 1, 2022, if 3% or more of students enrolled in a school district are determined to be gifted, the district is required to establish a state-approved gifted program for gifted children. If a school district has an average daily attendance of 350 students or less, the district's gifted program shall not be required to provide services by a teacher certified to teach gifted education. Any teacher who provides gifted services through the program, and is not certified, shall annually participate in at least 6 hours of professional development focused on gifted development. Approval of such programs shall be made by the Department based upon project applications submitted at a time and in a form determined by the Department. This act is substantially similar to HCS/SS/SCS/SB 528 (2020), HB 1317 (2020), HCS/HB 1540 (2020), HB 112 (2019), HCS/SS/SB 218 (2019), and is similar to HB 136 (2019), HB 1435 (2018), and HB 1030 (2017). JOSIE BUTLER