Body armor prohibited on Louisiana school grounds, buses

BATON ROUGE, La. — Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law a bill that prohibits students and other individuals from wearing or possessing body armor (such as bulletproof vests) on school grounds, on school buses, at school-sponsored events, in firearm-free zones and within 1,000 feet of school property.

Those who violate the law will receive a fine of up to $1,000, be imprisoned for six months to a year, or both.

The bill also stipulates that school officials must post a sign at school entries that outlines the consequences of violating the law.

If a school official confiscates body armor from a student, the incident must be reported to police. The principal must also immediately notify the student’s parents.

School officials who fail to report such an incident within 72 hours of its occurrence could receive a fine of up to $500, be sentenced up to 40 hours of community service, or both.

The law will take effect on Aug. 15.