TITLE 14. CRIMINAL LAW

CHAPTER 1. CRIMINAL CODE

PART II. OFFENSES AGAINST THE PERSON

SUBPART B. ASSAULT AND BATTERY (WITH RELATED OFFENSES)

14:34.3     Battery of a school teacher

A. Battery of a school teacher is a battery committed without the consent of the victim when the offender has reasonable grounds to believe the victim is a school teacher acting in the performance of employment duties.

B. For purposes of this Section:

(1) "School teacher" shall include any teacher or instructor, administrator, staff person, or employee of any public or private elementary, secondary, vocational-technical training, special, or postsecondary school or institution.  For purposes of this Section, "school teacher" shall also include any teacher aide and paraprofessional, school bus driver, food service worker, and other clerical, custodial, or maintenance personnel employed by a city, parish, or other local public school board.

(2) "School" means any public or non-public elementary, secondary, high school, vocational-technical school, college, special, or postsecondary school or institution, or university in this state.

(3) "Student" means any person registered or enrolled at the school where the school teacher is employed.

C. Whoever commits the crime of battery of a school teacher shall be punished as follows:

(1) If the battery was committed by a student, upon conviction, the offender shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned not less than thirty days nor more than one year.  At least seventy-two hours of the sentence imposed shall be imposed without benefit of suspension of sentence.

(2) If the battery was committed by someone who is not a student, the offender shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not less than one year nor more than five years, or both.

(3) If the battery produces an injury that requires medical attention, the offender shall be fined not more than five thousand dollars or imprisoned with or without hard labor for not less than one year nor more than five years, or both.

Added by Acts 1985, No. 871, § 1.  Amended by Acts 1994, 3rd Ex.Sess., No. 44, § 1;  Acts 1999, No. 936, § 1;  Acts 2008, No. 295, § 1, eff. June 17, 2008;  Acts 2009, No. 283, § 1.