HB 1543 -- School Protection Measures

Sponsor:  Wallace

This bill changes the laws regarding school employee liability,
safety practices, and reporting acts of violence.  In its main
provisions, the bill:

(1)  Expands the reporting of acts of violence to include all
teachers at the student's school building and other employees who
need to know;

(2)  Specifies that a suspended student who is not allowed on
school property without specific permission is also prohibited
from attending school events occurring off school property;

(3)  Expands employee immunity from following established
discipline policies to include policies of student discipline;

(4)  Adds the use of force to protect persons or property by
school district personnel to the provisions regarding spanking
which is not to be considered as abuse that would be investigated
by the Children's Division within the Department of Social
Services as long as the spanking or use of force does not give
rise to an allegation of sexual misconduct and another employee
is present as a witness;

(5)  Requires, by July 1, 2012, the State Board of Education to
add provisions to any school facilities and safety criteria
developed for the Missouri School Improvement Program that
suggest required drills regarding standards for safe facilities
occur at least annually and requires that all staff receive
sufficient training on the school's security and crisis
management plan that is maintained throughout the school year;

(6)  Revises, in school residency provisions, the meaning of
"homeless children and youths" to be consistent with the federal
definition and specifies which educational records are needed for
enrollment;

(7)  Changes the current requirement for forwarding educational
records from 48 hours to two business days, adds individual
education plans and health records to the requirement, and allows
private and parochial schools to request a copy of specified
school enrollment records;

(8)  Requires a notice of reportable offenses to be attached to
an offending student's record and transcript;

(9)  Allows all public school districts to require a school
uniform or restrict student dress.  Currently, these provisions
require only the St. Louis City School District to consider
adopting a school uniform;

(10)  Makes the list of reportable student offenses in Section
167.115, RSMo, consistent with the list in Section 160.261;

(11)  Consolidates the provisions regarding expulsion and
suspension;

(12)  Exempts unqualified employees who refuse to administer
medication or medical services from disciplinary action for the
refusal;

(13)  Exempts qualified employees from any civil liability for
administering medication or medical services, including
cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other lifesaving methods, in
good faith and according to standard medical practices;

(14)  Specifies that a student must be allowed to self-administer
medication for any chronic health condition;

(15)  Adds other school employees trained and supervised by the
school nurse to the list of individuals who are authorized to use
an epinephrine auto-syringe on a student and specifies that these
employees will be immune from civil liability when done in good
faith and according to standard medical practices; and

(16)  Requires, by July 1, 2011, the Children's Services
Commission to recommend best practices on interagency
communications regarding students receiving state services while
protecting the privacy of the involved student and family.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:11 pm