1. U.S. Code
  2. title 20
  3. chapter 70
  4. subchapter VIII
  5. part F
  6. subpart 3
  7. § 7946

Collapse to view only § 7946. Limitation on liability for teachers

§ 7941. Short title

This subpart may be cited as the “Paul D. Coverdell Teacher Protection Act of 2001”.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VIII, § 8551, formerly title II, § 2361, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, § 201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1667; renumbered title IX, § 9541, renumbered title VIII, § 8551, Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2001(a)(3)(A), (B), (D), title VIII, § 8001(a)(7), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1913, 2088, 2089.)

CITE AS: 20 USC 7941

§ 7942. Purpose

The purpose of this subpart is to provide teachers, principals, and other school professionals the tools they need to undertake reasonable actions to maintain order, discipline, and an appropriate educational environment.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VIII, § 8552, formerly title II, § 2362, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, § 201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1667; renumbered title IX, § 9542, renumbered title VIII, § 8552, Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2001(a)(3)(A), (B), (D), title VIII, § 8001(a)(7), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1913, 2088, 2089.)

CITE AS: 20 USC 7942

§ 7943. DefinitionsFor purposes of this subpart:
(1) Economic loss
(2) Harm
(3) Noneconomic loss
(4) School
(5) State
(6) TeacherThe term “teacher” means—
(A) a teacher, instructor, principal, or administrator;
(B) another educational professional who works in a school;
(C) a professional or nonprofessional employee who—
(i) works in a school; and
(ii)(I) in the employee’s job, maintains discipline or ensures safety; or(II) in an emergency, is called on to maintain discipline or ensure safety; or
(D) an individual member of a school board (as distinct from the board).
(Pub. L. 89–10, title VIII, § 8553, formerly title II, § 2363, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, § 201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1667; renumbered title IX, § 9543, renumbered title VIII, § 8553, Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2001(a)(3)(A), (B), (D), title VIII, § 8001(a)(7), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1913, 2088, 2089.)

CITE AS: 20 USC 7943

§ 7944. Applicability

This subpart shall only apply to States that receive funds under this chapter, and shall apply to such a State as a condition of receiving such funds.

(Pub. L. 89–10, title VIII, § 8554, formerly title II, § 2364, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, § 201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1668; renumbered title IX, § 9544, renumbered title VIII, § 8554, Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2001(a)(3)(A), (B), (D), title VIII, § 8001(a)(7), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1913, 2088, 2089.)

CITE AS: 20 USC 7944

§ 7945. Preemption and election of State nonapplicability
(a) Preemption
(b) Election of State regarding nonapplicability
This subpart shall not apply to any civil action in a State court against a teacher with respect to claims arising within that State if such State enacts a statute in accordance with State requirements for enacting legislation—
(1) citing the authority of this subsection;
(2) declaring the election of such State that this subpart shall not apply, as of a date certain, to such civil action in the State; and
(3) containing no other provisions.
(Pub. L. 89–10, title VIII, § 8555, formerly title II, § 2365, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, § 201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1668; renumbered title IX, § 9545, renumbered title VIII, § 8555, Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2001(a)(3)(A), (B), (D), title VIII, § 8001(a)(7), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1913, 2088, 2089.)

CITE AS: 20 USC 7945

§ 7946. Limitation on liability for teachers
(a) Liability protection for teachersExcept as provided in subsection (b), no teacher in a school shall be liable for harm caused by an act or omission of the teacher on behalf of the school if—
(1) the teacher was acting within the scope of the teacher’s employment or responsibilities to a school or governmental entity;
(2) the actions of the teacher were carried out in conformity with Federal, State, and local laws (including rules and regulations) in furtherance of efforts to control, discipline, expel, or suspend a student or maintain order or control in the classroom or school;
(3) if appropriate or required, the teacher was properly licensed, certified, or authorized by the appropriate authorities for the activities or practice involved in the State in which the harm occurred, where the activities were or practice was undertaken within the scope of the teacher’s responsibilities;
(4) the harm was not caused by willful or criminal misconduct, gross negligence, reckless misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed by the teacher; and
(5) the harm was not caused by the teacher operating a motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft, or other vehicle for which the State requires the operator or the owner of the vehicle, craft, or vessel to—
(A) possess an operator’s license; or
(B) maintain insurance.
(b) Exceptions to teacher liability protectionIf the laws of a State limit teacher liability subject to one or more of the following conditions, such conditions shall not be construed as inconsistent with this section:
(1) A State law that requires a school or governmental entity to adhere to risk management procedures, including mandatory training of teachers.
(2) A State law that makes the school or governmental entity liable for the acts or omissions of its teachers to the same extent as an employer is liable for the acts or omissions of its employees.
(3) A State law that makes a limitation of liability inapplicable if the civil action was brought by an officer of a State or local government pursuant to State or local law.
(c) Limitation on punitive damages based on the actions of teachers
(1) General rule
(2) Construction
(d) Exceptions to limitations on liability
(1) In generalThe limitations on the liability of a teacher under this subpart shall not apply to any misconduct that—
(A) constitutes a crime of violence (as that term is defined in section 16 of title 18) or act of international terrorism (as that term is defined in section 2331 of title 18) for which the defendant has been convicted in any court;
(B) involves a sexual offense, as defined by applicable State law, for which the defendant has been convicted in any court;
(C) involves misconduct for which the defendant has been found to have violated a Federal or State civil rights law; or
(D) where the defendant was under the influence (as determined pursuant to applicable State law) of intoxicating alcohol or any drug at the time of the misconduct.
(2) Hiring
(e) Rules of construction
(1) Concerning responsibility of teachers to schools and governmental entities
(2) Concerning corporal punishment
(Pub. L. 89–10, title VIII, § 8556, formerly title II, § 2366, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, § 201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1668; renumbered title IX, § 9546, renumbered title VIII, § 8556, and amended Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2001(a)(1), (3)(A), (B), (D), title VIII, § 8001(a)(7), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1913, 2088, 2089.)

CITE AS: 20 USC 7946

§ 7947. Allocation of responsibility for noneconomic loss
(a) General rule
(b) Amount of liability
(1) In general
(A) Liability
(B) Separate judgment
(2) Percentage of responsibility
(c) Rule of construction
(Pub. L. 89–10, title VIII, § 8557, formerly title II, § 2367, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, § 201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1670; renumbered title IX, § 9547, renumbered title VIII, § 8557, Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2001(a)(3)(A), (B), (D), title VIII, § 8001(a)(7), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1913, 2088, 2089.)

CITE AS: 20 USC 7947

§ 7948. Effective date
(a) In general
(b) Application
(Pub. L. 89–10, title VIII, § 8558, formerly title II, § 2368, as added Pub. L. 107–110, title II, § 201, Jan. 8, 2002, 115 Stat. 1670; renumbered title IX, § 9548, renumbered title VIII, § 8558, Pub. L. 114–95, title II, § 2001(a)(3)(A), (B), (D), title VIII, § 8001(a)(7), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 1913, 2088, 2089.)

CITE AS: 20 USC 7948