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S. B. No. 2296 *SS08/R392* ~ OFFICIAL ~ G1/2
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To: Education
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2026
By: Senator(s) Norwood
SENATE BILL NO. 2296
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-11-57, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, 1
TO PROHIBIT THE USE OF CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN PUBLIC AND CHARTER 2
SCHOOLS TO DISCIPLINE A STUDENT; TO PROVIDE THAT ANY EMPLOYEE WHO 3
VIOLATES THE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT PROHIBITION SHALL BE HELD LIABLE 4
FOR CIVIL DAMAGES SUFFERED AS A RESULT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF 5
CORPORAL PUNISHMENT; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 6
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI: 7
SECTION 1. Section 37-11-57, Mississippi Code of 1972, is 8
amended as follows: 9
37-11-57. (1) Except in the case of excessive force or 10
cruel and unusual punishment, a public schoolteacher, assistant 11
teacher, principal, or an assistant principal acting within the 12
course and scope of his employment shall not be liable for any 13
action carried out in conformity with state or federal law or 14
rules or regulations of the State Board of Education or the local 15
school board or governing board of a charter school regarding the 16
control, discipline, suspension and expulsion of students. The 17
local school board shall provide any necessary legal defense to a 18
teacher, assistant teacher, principal, or assistant principal in 19
the school district who was acting within the course and scope of 20
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his employment in any action which may be filed against such 21
school personnel. A school district or charter school, as the 22
case may be, shall be entitled to reimbursement for legal fees and 23
expenses from its employee if a court finds that the act of the 24
employee was outside the course and scope of his employment, or 25
that the employee was acting with criminal intent. Any action by 26
a school district or charter school against its employee and any 27
action by the employee against the school district or charter 28
school for necessary legal fees and expenses shall be tried to the 29
court in the same suit brought against the school employee. 30
(2) Corporal punishment is prohibited from being 31
administered in * * * any public or charter school as an action to 32
maintain control and discipline of students taken by a public 33
schoolteacher, assistant teacher, principal or assistant principal 34
employed by the local public charter school district or charter 35
school acting within the scope of his employment * * *. * * * Any 36
public school or charter school teacher, assistant teacher, 37
principal or assistant principal so acting, who violates this 38
subsection, shall be held liable in a suit for civil damages 39
alleged to have been suffered by a student as a result of the 40
administration of corporal punishment * * * if the court 41
determines that the teacher, assistant teacher, principal or 42
assistant principal acted in bad faith or with malicious purpose 43
or in a manner exhibiting a wanton and willful disregard of human 44
rights or safety. For the purposes of this subsection, "corporal 45
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ST: Corporal punishment; prohibit
administration of in public and charter schools
for disciplinary matters.
punishment" means the reasonable use of physical force or physical 46
contact by a teacher, assistant teacher, principal or assistant 47
principal * * * to maintain discipline, to enforce a school rule, 48
for self-protection or for the protection of other students from 49
disruptive students. 50
* * * 51
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from 52
and after July 1, 2026. 53