SLS 20RS-522 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 297
BY SENATOR BARROW
SCHOOLS. Provides relative to discipline of a teacher or employee arrested for sexual
offenses affecting a minor. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To enact R.S. 17:443(E), relative to the discipline of teachers; to provide that a teacher
3 arrested for any sexual offense affecting minors be placed on administrative leave
4 until disposition of the charges in his favor; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 17:443(E) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง443. Discipline of teachers; procedure; right of review; exceptions
8 * * *
9 E. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, any teacher
10 who has been arrested for a violation of any of the following: R.S. 14:42 through
11 43.5, 80 through 81.5, any other sexual offense affecting minors, or any of the
12 crimes provided in R.S. 15:587.1 shall immediately be placed on administrative
13 leave by the employing city, parish, or other local school board and shall remain
14 on such leave until the charges are disposed of in his favor.
15 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
16 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
17 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
Page 1 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 297
SLS 20RS-522 ORIGINAL
1 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
2 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SB 297 Original 2020 Regular Session Barrow
Present law provides for the discipline of teachers and provides the teacher a right to review
of charges and the right to respond before any disciplinary action is instituted against him.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally requires the employing school governing
authority to immediately place any teacher who has been arrested for any sexual offense
affecting minors on administrative leave and the teacher shall remain on leave until the
charges are disposed of in his favor.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:443(E))
Page 2 of 2
Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.