20 U.S.C. § 7946: Limitation on liability for…

Summary

Protects teachers from being sued for harm that happens while they are doing their school job, as long as they were acting within their duties, following federal, state, and local laws for discipline or keeping order, were properly licensed when required, did not act on purpose in a criminal way or with extreme carelessness or blatant disregard for safety, and the harm did not happen while they were driving or operating a vehicle that the State requires to be licensed or insured. States can still have laws that require risk‑management steps (like training), make the school liable for its teachers, or let a government officer bring a suit. Punitive damages (extra money meant to punish) cannot be awarded against a teacher unless the claimant proves by clear and convincing evidence that the teacher’s willful or criminal misconduct or conscious, flagrant indifference directly caused the harm. The protections do not apply for convicted violent or terrorism crimes, convicted sexual offenses, civil‑rights violations, misconduct while under the influence, or wrongdoing during hiring/background checks. Schools can still sue teachers, and local rules about corporal punishment are not changed.

Title 20, §7946

Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Liability protection for teachers

Except 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 protection

If 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)

(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

Punitive damages may not be awarded against a teacher in an action brought for harm based on the act or omission of a teacher acting within the scope of the teacher’s employment or responsibilities to a school or governmental entity unless the claimant establishes by clear and convincing evidence that the harm was proximately caused by an act or omission of such teacher that constitutes willful or criminal misconduct, or a conscious, flagrant indifference to the rights or safety of the individual harmed.

(2)Construction

Paragraph (1) does not create a cause of action for punitive damages and does not preempt or supersede any Federal or State law to the extent that such law would further limit the award of punitive damages.

(d)Exceptions to limitations on liability

(1)In general

The 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

The limitations on the liability of a teacher under this subpart shall not apply to misconduct during background investigations, or during other actions, involved in the hiring of a teacher.

(e)Rules of construction

(1)Concerning responsibility of teachers to schools and governmental entities

Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any civil action brought by any school or any governmental entity against any teacher of such school.

(2)Concerning corporal punishment

Nothing in this subpart shall be construed to affect any State or local law (including a rule or regulation) or policy pertaining to the use of corporal punishment.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was classified to section 6736 of this title prior to renumbering by Pub. L. 114–95.

Amendments

2015—Pub. L. 114–95, § 2001(a)(1), struck out undesignated par. following par. (2) which read as follows: “ate 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.” Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 114–95, § 2001(a)(1), added par. (3).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title.

§7946 Limitation on Liability for Teachers