§416.6.  Search of persons entering public school buildings or grounds

A.  Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, any school principal, administrator, or school security guard may search the person, handbag, briefcase, purse, or other object in possession of any person who is not a student enrolled at the school, or a school employee while in any school building or on school grounds either by conducting a random search with a metal detector or when there is reasonable suspicion that such person has any weapons, illegal drugs, alcohol, stolen goods, or other materials or objects the possession of which is a violation of the parish or city school board's policy.

B.  If any principal, administrator, or school security guard is sued for damages by any person based upon a search of the person, handbag, briefcase, purse, or other object in possession of that person after the principal, administrator, or school security guard conducts a random search with a metal detector or has a reasonable suspicion that the person had weapons, illegal drugs, alcohol, stolen goods, or other materials or objects the possession of which is a violation of the parish or city school board policy, it shall be the responsibility of the school board employing such principal, administrator, or school security guard, to indemnify him fully against such judgment, including all principal, interest, and costs.  Nothing in this Section shall require a school board to indemnify a principal, administrator, or school security guard against a judgment wherein there is a specific finding that the action of the principal, administrator, or school security guard was maliciously, wilfully, and deliberately intended to harass, embarrass, or intimidate the visitor.

C.  The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any state or local law enforcement officer while in the performance of his official duties.

Acts 1991, No. 328, §1, eff. July 6, 1991.