North Carolina § 115C-46 - 2. Probation officer visits at school; limitations.

§ 115C-46. 2. Probation officer visits at school; limitations.

Except as provided in this section, probation officers are not authorized to visit students during school hours on school property. Probation officers of the Section of Community Corrections of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice, when working as a part of the Section's School Partnership Program, may visit students during school hours on school property with prior authorization by school administrators. For purposes of this section, "authorization" includes requests for assistance from guidance counselors or school resource officers. Each local board of education shall develop policies and guidelines for coordinating with probation officers of the Section of Community Corrections of the Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice in the planning and scheduling of school visits as provided in this section, utilizing existing administrative capacity to manage scheduling. Visits shall be conducted in a private area designated for such use and located away from contact with the general student population. The probation officer shall not initiate direct contact with a student while the student is in class or between classes. Initial contact with the student shall be made by a school administrator or other designated school employee, who shall direct the student to a private area to meet with the probation officer. History (2011-145, s. 19.1(k); 2012-149, s. 6; 2017-186, s. 2(xxxx).) Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2011-145, s. 19.1(k), directed that references to "Division of Community Corrections" be changed to "Section of Community Corrections of the Division of Adult Corrections." Substitutions have been made in subsections (b) and (c) at the direction of the Revisor of Statutes. Session Laws 2012-149, s. 12, made this section effective July 12, 2012, and applicable beginning with the 2012-2013 school year. Session Laws 2012-149, preamble, provides: "Whereas, the General Assembly of North Carolina finds that a safe and civil environment in school is necessary in order for students to learn and achieve high academic standards; and "Whereas, bullying and harassment, like other disruptive or violent behaviors, disrupt both a student's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate its students in a safe environment; and "Whereas, bullying and harassing behaviors create a climate that fosters violence in our schools; and "Whereas, it is essential to enact a law that seeks to protect the health and welfare of North Carolina students and improve the learning environment for North Carolina students; and "Whereas, to do so, State and national data and anecdotal evidence have established the need to identify the most vulnerable targets and potential victims of bullying and harassment; and "Whereas, the sole purpose of this law is to protect all children from bullying and harassment, and no other legislative purpose is intended nor should any other intent be construed from passage of this law; Now, therefore." Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2017-186, s. 2(xxxx), effective December 1, 2017, substituted "Division of Adult Correction and Juvenile Justice" for "Division of Adult Corrections" twice.