MS HB259

Amends Section 37-11-29 to clarify that school employees must report crimes against children to law enforcement in addition to reporting requirements under existing child abuse and sex crime statutes.

Requires mandatory reporters to personally make reports of child abuse, child sexual abuse, child neglect, and sex crimes against minors rather than delegating responsibility to others.

Requires reports to be made to both the superintendent (or designee) and to local law enforcement agencies when acts involve weapons, controlled substances, assaults, rape, sexual battery, murder, kidnapping, or fondling of children.

Mandates the State Superintendent of Public Education to compile annual reports on student arrests from unlawful activity on school property, disaggregated by race, ethnicity, gender, school, offense, and law enforcement agency, submitted to state officials by January 1 each year.

Takes effect July 1, 2017.