§ 1482 - Safety patrols
§ 1482. Safety patrols
(a) In the exercise of authorized control and supervision over pupils attending schools and other educational institutions in this state, both public and independent, the board of school directors or other directing authority of any such school or institution may organize and supervise school safety patrols and the appointment, with the permission of parents, of pupils as members thereof, for the purpose of influencing and encouraging other pupils to refrain from crossing public highways at points other than at regular crossings, and for the purpose of directing pupils not to cross highways at times when the presence of traffic would render such crossing unsafe.
(b) Such board of school directors or other directing authority shall obtain and keep in force adequate accident insurance to protect pupils acting as safety patrols during the performance of their services.
(c) The commissioner of public safety shall, upon the request of a board of school directors or other directing authority of any public or independent educational institution, assign an officer or officers of the state police to assist such school authorities in the organization and supervision of school safety patrols, advise and make recommendations concerning the elimination of traffic hazards endangering the safety of school children, and otherwise assist in promoting safety education in the schools of the state. Within the appropriation of his department, the commissioner of public safety shall furnish such equipment, material and supplies as he may deem necessary for the proper functioning of the school safety patrols. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize or permit the use of any safety patrol member for the purpose of directing vehicular traffic.
(d) Liability shall not attach either to the school, educational institution, governing board or any individual director, trustee, superintendent, teacher, or other school authority, parent or any sponsor, sponsoring organization or representative thereof, or to the department of public safety or to any individual member thereof, by virtue of the organization, maintenance or operation of such a school safety patrol and school safety patrol field day activity organized, maintained and operated under the authority of this section because of injuries sustained by any pupil or person, whether a member of the patrol or otherwise, by reason of the operation and maintenance thereof. (Amended 1991, No. 24, § 11.)