Indiana 2025 Regular Session

Indiana Senate Bill SB0531 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	Introduced Version
3	3	SENATE BILL No. 531
4	4	_____
5	5	DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
6	6	Citations Affected: IC 20-24-5.5-1; IC 20-33-8.
7	7	Synopsis: Ban on corporal punishment in schools. Prohibits the use of
8	8	corporal punishment on certain students. Allows the use of reasonable
9	9	and necessary force in certain situations.
10	10	Effective: July 1, 2025.
11	11	Ford J.D.
12	12	January 16, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education and Career
13	13	Development.
14	14	2025 IN 531—LS 6607/DI 152 Introduced
15	15	First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
16	16	PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
17	17	Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
18	18	additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
19	19	Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
20	20	provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
21	21	word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
22	22	a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
23	23	Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
24	24	between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
25	25	SENATE BILL No. 531
26	26	A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
27	27	education.
28	28	Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
29	29	1 SECTION 1. IC 20-24-5.5-1, AS ADDED BY P.L.179-2016,
30	30	2 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
31	31	3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 1. (a) A charter school shall:
32	32	4 (1) establish written discipline rules, which must include a
33	33	5 graduated system of discipline and may include:
34	34	6 (A) appropriate dress codes; and
35	35	7 (B) if applicable, an agreement for court assisted resolution of
36	36	8 school suspension and expulsion cases;
37	37	9 for the charter school; and
38	38	10 (2) publicize the discipline rules within the charter school where
39	39	11 the discipline rules apply, which may include:
40	40	12 (A) making a copy of the discipline rules available to students
41	41	13 or parents, guardians, or custodians of students; or
42	42	14 (B) delivering a copy of the discipline rules to students or
43	43	15 parents, guardians, or custodians of students.
44	44	16 The publicity requirement is satisfied if the charter school makes a
45	45	17 good faith effort to disseminate the text or substance of the discipline
46	46	2025 IN 531—LS 6607/DI 152 2
47	47	1 rules to students or parents, guardians, or custodians of students
48	48	2 generally.
49	49	3 (b) Discipline rules established under this section shall not
50	50	4 permit a student to be subject to corporal punishment by charter
51	51	5 school personnel.
52	52	6 (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), charter school personnel
53	53	7 may use reasonable and necessary force:
54	54	8 (1) to stop or prevent an act that threatens physical injury to
55	55	9 any person;
56	56	10 (2) to obtain possession of a weapon or dangerous object that
57	57	11 is in a student's control; or
58	58	12 (3) in self-defense.
59	59	13 SECTION 2. IC 20-33-8-8, AS AMENDED BY P.L.188-2023,
60	60	14 SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
61	61	15 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 8. (a) Student supervision and the desirable
62	62	16 behavior of students in carrying out school purposes is the
63	63	17 responsibility of:
64	64	18 (1) a school corporation; and
65	65	19 (2) the students of a school corporation.
66	66	20 (b) Except as provided in subsection (e), in all matters relating to
67	67	21 the discipline and conduct of students, school corporation personnel:
68	68	22 (1) stand in the relation of parents to the students of the school
69	69	23 corporation;
70	70	24 (2) have the right to take any disciplinary action necessary to
71	71	25 promote student conduct that conforms with an orderly and
72	72	26 effective educational system, subject to this chapter; and
73	73	27 (3) have qualified immunity with respect to a disciplinary action
74	74	28 taken to promote student conduct under subdivision (2) if the
75	75	29 action is taken in good faith and is reasonable.
76	76	30 (c) Students must:
77	77	31 (1) follow responsible directions of school personnel in all
78	78	32 educational settings; and
79	79	33 (2) refrain from disruptive behavior that interferes with the
80	80	34 educational environment.
81	81	35 (d) In accordance with subsection (b), a school corporation may
82	82	36 adopt a policy concerning student dress code or distractive behavior.
83	83	37 (e) School corporation personnel shall not subject a student to
84	84	38 corporal punishment.
85	85	39 (f) Notwithstanding subsection (e), school personnel may use
86	86	40 reasonable and necessary force:
87	87	41 (1) to stop or prevent an act that threatens physical injury to
88	88	42 any person;
89	89	2025 IN 531—LS 6607/DI 152 3
90	90	1 (2) to obtain possession of a weapon or dangerous object that
91	91	2 is in a student's control; or
92	92	3 (3) in self-defense.
93	93	4 SECTION 3. IC 20-33-8-8.5 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
94	94	5 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
95	95	6 1, 2025]: Sec. 8.5. (a) This section applies to a state accredited
96	96	7 nonpublic school.
97	97	8 (b) A state accredited nonpublic school shall not subject a
98	98	9 student to corporal punishment.
99	99	10 (c) Notwithstanding subsection (b), state accredited nonpublic
100	100	11 school personnel may use reasonable and necessary force:
101	101	12 (1) to stop or prevent an act that threatens physical injury to
102	102	13 any person;
103	103	14 (2) to obtain possession of a weapon or dangerous object that
104	104	15 is in a student's control; or
105	105	16 (3) in self-defense.
106	106	17 (d) The department shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to
107	107	18 implement this section.
108	108	2025 IN 531—LS 6607/DI 152