The Florida Senate

232.277  Reports of suspected substance or alcohol abuse; exemption from liability.--

(1)  School personnel are required to report to the principal or principal's designee any suspected unlawful use, possession, or sale by a student of any controlled substance, as defined in s. 893.02; any counterfeit controlled substance, as defined in s. 831.31; any alcoholic beverage, as defined in s. 561.01(4); or model glue. School personnel are exempt from civil liability when reporting in good faith to the proper school authority such suspected unlawful use, possession, or sale by a student. Only a principal or principal's designee is authorized to contact a parent or legal guardian of a student regarding this situation.

(2)(a)  It is the intent of the Legislature that all school students understand that the magnitude of the harm caused by unlawful use, possession, or sale of the substances set forth in subsection (1) mandates the reporting of occurrences of such unlawful acts for prosecution or other action as appropriate.

(b)  Reports made and verified under subsection (1) shall be forwarded to an appropriate agency.

(c)  School personnel shall timely notify the student's parent, guardian, or legal custodian that a verified report made under subsection (1) with respect to the student has been made and forwarded as provided for in this subsection.

History.--s. 1, ch. 82-48; s. 98, ch. 83-217; s. 1, ch. 84-34; s. 3, ch. 92-19; s. 19, ch. 97-234.