SSB 3075

Current law governing corporal punishment in schools prohibits an employee of a public school district, accredited nonpublic school, or area education agency from inflicting corporal punishment upon a student. “Corporal punishment” is defined as the intentional physical punishment of a student. Current law specifies circumstances in which an employee’s physical contact with the body of a student shall not be considered corporal punishment. Current law also provides that a school employee who, in the reasonable course of the employee’s employment responsibilities, comes into physical contact with a student shall be granted immunity from any civil or criminal liability which might otherwise be incurred or imposed as a result of such physical contact, if the physical contact is reasonable under the circumstances and involves various specified acts. This bill applies the same prohibitions, responsibilities, and immunity to a school volunteer. _____ liability in this way, the school district, board of directors of the school district, or authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school shall also be granted immunity from any civil or criminal liability to the same extent as the school employee or school volunteer. Current law provides that any school employee determined in a civil action to have been wrongfully accused of violating state law on corporal punishment in schools shall be awarded reasonable monetary damages, in light of the circumstances involved, against the party bringing the action. The bill applies this provision to a school volunteer, the school district, board of directors of the school district, or authorities in charge of the accredited nonpublic school as well. The bill provides that reasonable monetary damages include attorney fees.