Section 20-2-1184. Reporting of students committing prohibited acts

   (a) Any teacher or other person employed at any public or private elementary or secondary school or any dean or public safety officer employed by a college or university who has reasonable cause to believe that a student at that school has committed any act upon school property or at any school function, which act is prohibited by any of the following:

   (1) Code Section 16-5-21, relating to aggravated assault if a firearm is involved;

   (2) Code Section 16-5-24, relating to aggravated battery;

   (3) Chapter 6 of Title 16, relating to sexual offenses;

   (4) Code Section 16-11-127, relating to carrying a weapon or long gun in an unauthorized location;

   (5) Code Section 16-11-127.1, relating to carrying weapons at school functions or on school property or within school safety zones;

   (6) Code Section 16-11-132, relating to the illegal possession of a handgun by a person under 18 years of age; or

   (7) Code Section 16-13-30, relating to possession and other activities regarding marijuana and controlled substances,

shall immediately report the act and the name of the student to the principal or president of that school or the principal's or president's designee.

(b) The principal or designee who receives a report made pursuant to subsection (a) of this Code section who has reasonable cause to believe that the report is valid shall make an oral report thereof immediately by telephone or otherwise to the appropriate school system superintendent and to the appropriate police authority and district attorney.

(c) Any person participating in the making of a report or causing a report to be made as authorized or required pursuant to this Code section or participating in any judicial proceeding or any other proceeding resulting therefrom shall in so doing be immune from any civil or criminal liability that might otherwise be incurred or imposed, providing such participation pursuant to this Code section is made in good faith.

(d) Any person required to make a report pursuant to this Code section who knowingly and willfully fails to do so shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Code 1981, § 20-2-1184, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 1834, § 1; Ga. L. 1994, p. 1012, § 7; Ga. L. 2010, p. 963, § 2-12/SB 308.