Senate Bill No. 450, introduced by Senator Edmonds, aims to enhance school safety by mandating the immediate reporting of threats of violence or terrorism by school employees to local law enforcement and, when applicable, to school administrators. Local law enforcement agencies are also required to report these threats to the Louisiana Fusion Center within seven days while ensuring the confidentiality of personally identifiable information. The bill maintains existing immunity from liability for individuals reporting threats and protects law enforcement agencies from liability for failing to report within the specified timeframe. Additionally, it allows schools to request physical security assessments from the fusion center, which must be conducted at no cost and no more than once every three years, with findings deemed confidential and not subject to public records laws.

The bill introduces new provisions clarifying that security assessments do not create a legal duty or standard of care and do not establish an independent cause of action. It allows schools to use these assessments as a defense in civil and administrative proceedings, and substantial compliance with recommendations creates a rebuttable presumption of reasonable care regarding school security. The bill also expands exemptions from public records disclosure to include these assessments and modifies the fusion center's requirements, allowing schools to request assessments based on available funding. The effective date for the proposed law is set for August 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
SB450 Original: 17:3(A), 29:6(B)(2), 44:1(B)(9)
SB450 Engrossed: 17:3(A), 29:6(B)(2), 44:1(B)(9)
SB450 Reengrossed: 17:3(A), 29:6(B)(2), 44:1(B)(9)
SB450 Re-Reengrossed: 17:3(A), 29:6(B)(2), 44:1(B)(9)