§ 5-803. School employees

MD Cts & Jud Pro Code § 5-803 (2019) (N/A)
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(a)    (1)    Whether or not an individual receives compensation for the individual’s services, an employee of a county health department or other local department or agency functioning as a school nurse or school health aide or a member of the administrative, educational, or support staff of, or an individual who serves under a contract for services to, any public, private, or parochial school is immune from liability for:

(i)    Making a report required by law, if the individual acts on reasonable grounds;

(ii)    Participating in a judicial proceeding that results from the individual’s report; and

(iii)    Making a report to the appropriate school official or to a parent if the individual has reasonable grounds to suspect that a student is:

1.    Under the influence of alcoholic beverages or a controlled dangerous substance;

2.    In possession of alcoholic beverages or a controlled dangerous substance; or

3.    Involved in the illegal sale or distribution of alcoholic beverages or a controlled dangerous substance.

(2)    Paragraph (1)(iii) of this subsection is effective only to the extent that its provisions do not conflict with federal or State confidentiality laws and regulations.

(b)    A county superintendent or any employee of a county school system who presents or enters findings of fact, recommendations, or reports or who participates in an employee dismissal, disciplinary, administrative, or judicial proceeding relating to a school system employee that results from these actions is immune from any civil liability if the action is:

(1)    In the performance of duties;

(2)    Within the scope of employment; and

(3)    Without malice.