House Bill No. by Representative Brown amends existing law to authorize public school personnel to conduct weapon screenings of students upon their initial entry onto school campuses during the school day. The bill allows local school boards to require students to undergo security screenings, which may include passing through metal detectors and manual or electronic searches of personal effects such as backpacks and lunch bags. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the absence of a screening will not impose liability on the school board and specifies that such screenings should not be considered personal searches.

Furthermore, the bill expands the authority of teachers, principals, and school administrators to search students' persons or personal effects during school hours or extracurricular activities if there are reasonable grounds to suspect a violation of law or school policy. It also allows for random searches with metal detectors without physical contact with students. The bill maintains existing provisions regarding the reporting of seized weapons or controlled substances to law enforcement. Overall, the proposed changes aim to enhance safety measures within public schools.

Statutes affected:
HB225 Original: 17:3(A)(2)