RS 17:16

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RS 17:16

§16. Reporting of certain arrests; school employees; requirements; failure to report

A. Effective January 1, 2012, and thereafter, a school employee shall report his arrest for a violation of R.S. 14:42 through 43.5, 80 through 81.5, any other sexual offense affecting minors, any of the crimes provided in R.S. 15:587.1, or any substantiated complaint of child abuse or neglect on file in the central registry pursuant to Children's Code Article 615.

B.(1) The report required by Subsection A of this Section shall be made by the school employee to a person or persons as specified by the governing authority of the school in rules and regulations required by this Section. Such report shall be made within twenty-four hours of the arrest. However, if the school employee is arrested on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legally declared school holiday such report shall be made prior to the school employee next reporting for his work assignment at a school. Such report shall be made by the school employee or an agent of the employee regardless of whether he was performing an official duty or responsibility as a school employee at the time of the offense.

(2)In addition, the school employee shall report the disposition of any legal proceedings related to any such arrest, which shall also be made a part of any related files or records.

C. The provisions of this Section shall apply to an arrest occurring after December 31, 2011, for a violation as specified in Subsection A of this Section.

D.(1) A school employee who fails to comply with the provisions of this Section shall be suspended with or without pay by the governing authority employing the employee if such employee is serving a probationary term of employment or if the provisions of law relative to probation and tenure are not applicable to the employee.

(2)Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, a school employee employed by a city, parish, or other local public school board who is a tenured employee of the board shall be subject to removal under R.S. 17:45, 443, 462, 493, 523, or 533, as applicable, for failure to comply with the provisions of this Section. Written and signed charges alleging such failure shall be brought against the employee.

E. Not later than October 1, 2011, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall adopt rules, regulations, and procedures to be followed by the governing authority of each public elementary and secondary school to implement the provisions of this Section. Such rules, regulations, and procedures shall be uniform and consistent with the provisions of this Section.

F. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, unless criminal charges are instituted pursuant to an arrest which is required to be reported by this Section, all information, records, hearing materials, and final recommendations of the school pertaining to such reported arrest shall remain confidential and shall not be subject to a public records request.

G. For the purposes of this Section, "school employee" means any employee of a city, parish, or other local public school board or other governing authority of a public elementary or secondary school, including a teacher, substitute teacher, bus operator, substitute bus operator, or janitor, and shall include all temporary, part-time, and permanent school employees.

Acts 2011, No. 267, §1, eff. June 28, 2011; Acts 2017, No. 335, §1; Acts 2025, No. 409, §3.