DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 1159 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Leger
Abstract: Provides relative to rates of out-of-school suspensions of public school students,
including those in charter schools. Provides for the creation of the Commission on Safe
Supportive Discipline.
Proposed law provides relative to student discipline, including rates of out-of-school suspensions
of public school students. Provides for the creation of the Commission on Safe Supportive Discipline
by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and provides for commission
membership and duties. Requires the commission to annually report to the House and Senate
education committees.
Proposed law provides for reports by the state Dept. of Education to the commission relative to
student discipline data and trends and related national comparisons. Further requires the department
to report discipline data and rates on its website. Requires the department to annually identify public
school suspension rates as specified in proposed law. Requires the department to annually notify
each local education agency that it determines has disproportionate rates of student suspension.
Provides for a plan to be submitted by each such local education agency to lower its suspension rates.
Provides for plan components and implementation. Requires the local education agency to report
to the department on such plan implementation and student suspension rates and academic
achievement. Provides for audits by the state Dept. of Education under specified circumstances.
Proposed law makes present law student discipline provisions, including provisions for student
suspensions and expulsions, applicable to charter schools.
(Adds R.S. 17:251(C), 252(E), and 3996(B)(42)); Repeals R.S. 17:3996(B)(40))