HLS 25RS-807 ORIGINAL
2025 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 225
BY REPRESENTATIVE BROWN
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
SCHOOLS: Authorizes public school personnel to conduct weapon screenings of students
upon entry onto a school campus
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:416.3(A)(2), (C)(1)(a) and (2)(a), and (D)(1), relative to
3 screenings of public school students; to authorize screenings of students upon initial
4 entry onto a school campus; to authorize screenings of public school students during
5 extracurricular and cocurricular activities; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:416.3(A)(2), (C)(1)(a) and (2)(a), and (D)(1) are hereby amended
8and reenacted to read as follows:
9 ยง416.3. Search of students' persons, desks, lockers, other areas; defense of suits
10 against school personnel; indemnification; reporting of implements seized
11 A.
12 * * *
13 (2)(a) The A local school board may require students to be subject to a
14 security screening upon initial entry onto a school campus during a school day for
15 the purpose of weapon detection. Such screening may include the following:
16 (i) Each student being required to go through a metal detector or other
17 weapon detection system.
18 (ii) A manual search or electronic scan of each student's personal effects,
19 including but not limited to his backpack and lunch bag.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-807 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 225
1 (b) The lack of a screening shall not result in the imposition of liability on
2 the board. A screening upon initial entry as authorized by Subparagraph (a) of this
3 Paragraph shall not be construed to be the search of an individual person.
4 (c) During a school day, or an extracurricular or cocurricular activity located
5 on a school campus, any teacher, principal, school security guard, or administrator
6 may search the person of a student or his personal effects when, based on the
7 attendant circumstances at the time of the search, there are reasonable grounds to
8 suspect that the search will reveal evidence that the student has violated the law, a
9 school rule, or a school board policy. Such a search shall be conducted in a manner
10 that is reasonably related to the purpose of the search and not excessively intrusive
11 in light of the age or sex of the student and the nature of the suspected offense.
12 (b) (d) Random searches with a metal detector of students or their personal
13 effects may be conducted at any time, provided they are conducted without
14 deliberate touching of the student.
15 * * *
16 C.(1)(a) On or before January 1, 1995, each Each parish and city school
17 board shall adopt a policy that is consistent with Subsection A of this Section to
18 provide for reasonable search and seizure by public school teachers, principals, and
19 other school administrators of students' persons, desks, lockers, or other school areas
20 for evidence that the law, a school rule, or a parish or city school board policy has
21 been violated.
22 * * *
23 (2)(a) Nothing in this Section shall require defense and/or or indemnification
24 by a school board, a principal, or other school administrator for suits regarding
25 search and seizure unless such acts are in accordance with the policy adopted by the
26 school board that employs him, if the policy is declared to be reasonable by a court
27 of competent jurisdiction.
28 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 25RS-807 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 225
1 D.(1) Upon the seizure by any public school teacher, principal, school
2 security guard, or administrator of any firearm, bomb, knife, or other implement
3 which can be used as a weapon and the careless use of which might inflict harm or
4 injury or any controlled dangerous substance as defined in R.S. 40:961(7) 40:961,
5 the principal or his designated administrator shall report the confiscation of such
6 implement or material to the appropriate law enforcement officials. The principal
7 or his designated administrator may report the confiscation of any other implement
8 or material.
9 * * *
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)]
HB 225 Original 2025 Regular Session Brown
Abstract: Authorizes search of students upon initial entry onto public school campuses.
Present law authorizes any public school teacher, principal, school security guard, or
administrator to search any desk, locker, building, area, or grounds for evidence that the law,
a school rule, or parish or city school board policy was violated. Proposed law retains
present law.
Present law authorizes the same persons to search the person of a student or his personal
effects when there are reasonable grounds to suspect that a search will reveal evidence that
the student violated the law, a school rule, or a school board policy. Proposed law retains
present law and authorizes such searches during an extracurricular or cocurricular activity.
Proposed law authorizes a public school board to require each student to go through a
screening upon initial entry onto campus during a school day.
(Amends R.S. 17:416.3(A)(2), (C)(1)(a) and (2)(a), and (D)(1))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.