HLS 12RS-1055 ENGROSSED
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 705
BY REPRESENTATIVE HOFFMANN
SCHOOLS/BOARDS: Provides relative to the reporting of certain electronic
communication between an employee at a public elementary or secondary school and
a student enrolled at that school
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:81(Q)(2)(c), to provide relative to the reporting of certain2
electronic communication between an employee at a public elementary or secondary3
school and a student enrolled at that school; to provide relative to the manner and4
frequency of reporting certain communication that is made or received by an5
employee using a means other than one provided by or made available by the school6
system; to provide guidelines; to provide applicability; to provide an effective date;7
and to provide for related matters.8
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:9
Section 1. R.S. 17:81(Q)(2)(c) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:10
ยง81. General powers of city, parish, and other local public school boards11
* * *12
Q.13
* * *14
(2) The policies, procedures, and practices required by Paragraph (1) of this15
Subsection, at a minimum, shall:16
* * *17
(c)(i) Specify that the occurrence of any electronic communication made by18
an employee at a school to a student enrolled at that school or that is received by an19
employee at a school from a student enrolled at that school using a means other than20
one provided by or made available by the school system shall be reported by the21 HLS 12RS-1055 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 705
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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employee in a manner deemed appropriate by the school board. Records of any such1
reported communication shall be maintained by the school board for a period of at2
least one year.3
(ii) In providing for the manner and frequency of reporting required by this4
Subparagraph, the board may authorize a school principal, or his designee, to permit5
an employee at the school to contact one or more specifically identified students6
enrolled at that school and be contacted by such student or students using a means7
other than one provided by or made available by the school, provided the employee8
has requested and received permission from the principal, or his designee, to do so9
and has provided documentation in writing to the principal, or his designee, stating10
the purpose or purposes for such contact. Such purposes may include but need not11
be limited to necessary communications relative to extracurricular activities, student12
athletic activities, community-based youth activities such as scouting, and faith-13
based activities such as a youth group sponsored by a religious organization.14
* * *15
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not16
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature17
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If18
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become19
effective on the day following such approval.20
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Hoffmann HB No. 705
Abstract: Provides relative to the manner and frequency of a school employee having to
report certain communication that is made to a student at that school or is received
by the employee from a student at that school using a means other than one provided
by or made available by the school system.
Relative to policies, procedures, and practices of a public elementary or secondary school
governing authority for the reporting of electronic communication between an employee at
a school and a student enrolled at that school: HLS 12RS-1055 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 705
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.
Present law (R.S. 17:81(Q)(2)(c)) provides that when such communication is made using a
means other than one provided by or made available by the school system, the employee
shall report it in a manner deemed appropriate by the school's governing authority. Specifies
that records of such reported communication shall be maintained by the governing authority
for a period of at least one year.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law, relative to the manner and frequency of reporting required by R.S.
17:81(Q)(2)(c), additionally provides that the governing authority may authorize a school
principal (or designee) to permit an employee at the school to contact one or more
specifically identified students enrolled at the school and be contacted by such student or
students provided the employee has obtained permission from the principal (or designee) to
do so and has provided documentation in writing stating the purpose or purposes for such
contact. Provides that such purposes may include (but need not be limited to) necessary
communication relative to extracurricular activities, student athletic activities, community-
based youth activities such as scouting, and faith-based activities such as a youth group
sponsored by a religious organization.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:81(Q)(2)(c))