School staff must report suspected misconduct involving minors

People with direct knowledge of a minor's abuse or neglect must report it to the Department of Child Safety immediately. This applies to people who have a duty to report under subsection A and direct knowledge that a minor is or has been abused or neglected. A health care institution employee or agent may delegate the report to a designated agent when reasonably needed to continue patient care or meet care standards, including legal duties. The law does not require more than one report from an institution employee or agent about the same facts and circumstances. The report must be made immediately.

Covered public school personnel and governing board members must report certain suspected misconduct involving minors to local law enforcement. This applies when covered public school personnel or a school district or charter school governing board member reasonably suspects, or receives a reasonable allegation, that a public school employee—including a contractor's employee—engaged in conduct involving minors covered by the child abuse reporting law. A report to a school resource officer or school safety officer does not meet the reporting duty. A law enforcement investigation under this section may not be supervised, managed, or directed by a school resource officer or school safety officer. A governing board or school official with control over personnel decisions may not accept the accused employee's resignation until the suspicions or allegations have been reported to the State Board of Education. The report to local law enforcement must be made immediately. If the accused employee is certificated or noncertificated, the reporter must also send a written report to the State Board of Education as soon as reasonably practical and within three business days.