2018 Louisiana Laws
Revised Statutes
TITLE 17 - Education
RS 17:410 - Safety education; recognition and reporting of potential threats to safety

SUBPART B. POTENTIAL THREATS TO SCHOOL SAFETY

§410. Safety education; recognition and reporting of potential threats to safety

            A. Each public school governing authority, in consultation with local law enforcement agencies, shall develop and distribute age and grade appropriate information to each student regarding internet and cell phone safety and online content that is a potential threat to school safety. The information shall include how to recognize and report potential threats to school safety that are posted on the internet, including but not limited to posts on social media. The information shall either be distributed to or explained to students and school personnel at the beginning of each school year and shall be posted on an easily accessible page of each school's website and the website of the school's governing authority.

            B. The information shall include the following:

            (1) Instruction on how to detect potential threats to school safety exhibited online, including on any social media platform.

            (2) Visual examples of possible threats.

            (3) The reporting process, as provided in Subsection C of this Section.

            C. Each public school governing authority shall develop procedures for reporting potential threats to school safety. The reporting procedures, at a minimum, shall include:

            (1) A standardized form to be used by students and school personnel to report potential threats which requests, at a minimum, the following information:

            (a) Name of school, person, or group being threatened.

            (b) Name of student, individual, or group threatening violence.

            (c) Date and time the threat was made.

            (d) Method by which the threat was made, including the social media outlet or website where the threat was posted, a screenshot or recording of the threat, if available, and any printed evidence of the threat.

            (2) A process for allowing school personnel to assist students in completing the standardized form.

            (3) A process for allowing reporting by an automated voice system.

            (4) A process for allowing anonymous reporting and for safeguarding the identity of a person who reports a threat.

            (5) For every threat reported, a school administrator shall record, on the form provided for by this Subsection, the action taken by the school.

            D. If information reported to a school pursuant to Subsection C of this Section is deemed a potential threat to school safety, the school shall present the form and evidence to local law enforcement agencies. If the information poses an immediate threat, school administrators shall follow procedures provided in R.S. 17:416.16.

            Acts 2018, No. 641, §1.