— In New Jersey, the New Jersey Supreme Court held that a school district can be held liable for a teacher’s sexual abuse of a student. The ruling reversed a decision by an appellate court that dismissed several cases, holding that a victimized student could not rely upon vicarious liability as a basis for damages against the school district. In reversing, the New Jersey Supreme Court reasoned that comprehensive child protection reforms clearly established that “the Legislature abrogated (previous Tort Claims Act) immunities that would otherwise bar claims against certain public entities in an action at law for damages as a result of a sexual assault … or sexual abuse … being committed against a person which was caused by a willful, wanton, or grossly negligent act of the public entity or public employee.” Applying “a plain and ordinary reading of the reform statute,” the New Jersey Supreme Court held that based upon (the statute’s) the plain language and legislative history, other legislative action addressing child sexual abuse, this Court’s (prior) decision …, and the authority on which the Court relied in that decision, we adopt a standard for the determination of vicarious liability claims asserted against public schools pursuant to the statute.” In other words, “when it enacted the Child Victims Act, the Legislature expanded the rights of child victims of sexual abuse”…providing “an exception to its broad grant of immunity for vicarious liability, providing that “a public entity is liable for injury proximately caused by an act or omission of a public employee within the scope of his employment.” The litigation arose out of allegations by students in four separate cases “that New Jersey public school teachers sexually abused them when they were high school students.” Hornor v. Upper Freehold Regional Board of Education
— In Kentucky, the legislature is considering a policy that would authorize educators to wear silent panic alert systems. “House Bill 643 would establish the framework for schools to implement wearable, silent panic alert systems for staff… that sends a signal to the local 911 and emergency responders.”
— In Georgia, the legislature is proposing a policy that “would ban high school students from using cellphones during the school day.” House Bill 1009 “has passed the Georgia House and is headed to the state Senate for a vote… Supporters say restricting phone use would help create a more focused learning environment.”
— In Maine, officials in Boothbay are distributing body shield backpacks to classrooms in the Boothbay-Boothbay Harbor Central School District. “Teachers and staff can use the bags as shields when evacuating or confronting a threat. Boothbay police say the backpack can stop a bullet and protect someone from being stabbed.”