SLS 20RS-117 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 150
BY SENATOR CARTER
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. Provides relative to alternative schools and alternative
education programs. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:100.5(A), 224, 252(A)(2)(h), 253(G), and to repeal R.S.
3 17:223.1, relative to alternative schools and alternative education programs; to
4 provide relative to students at risk of dropping out of school; to provide relative to
5 the discipline of students; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:100.5(A), 224, 252(A)(2)(h), and 253(G) are hereby amended and
8 reenacted to read as follows:
9 §100.5. Alternative schools; establishment by local boards
10 A. Parish and city school boards, with the approval of the State Board of
11 Elementary and Secondary Education, may establish and maintain one or more
12 alternative schools for children whose behavior is disruptive or who are at risk of
13 dropping out of school. Any alternative school shall be maintained and funded at
14 the same level of support as other schools for children in the school district.
15 * * *
16 §224. Unadjustable or incorrigible children; reports to juvenile courts; expulsion,
17 Expulsion, assignments, and transfers
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 150
SLS 20RS-117 ORIGINAL
1 A. Unadjustable or incorrigible children, who, through no fault of their
2 parents or tutors or other persons having charge of them, regularly disrupt the orderly
3 processes of the school to which they have been assigned, shall be considered as
4 delinquents and may be reported by the visiting teacher, or supervisor of child
5 welfare and attendance, to the juvenile court of the parish, there to be dealt with in
6 the manner prescribed by law.
7 B. Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 17:416 to the contrary, any student
8 who exhibits disruptive behavior, an incorrigible attitude, or any other discipline
9 problems in general, may be recommended by the principal for expulsion,
10 assignment to an appropriate alternative education program, or transfer to adult
11 education if such student is:
12 (1) Seventeen years of age or older with less than five units of credit toward
13 graduation.
14 (2) Eighteen years of age or older with less than ten units of credit toward
15 graduation.
16 (3) Nineteen years of age or older with less than fifteen units of credit toward
17 graduation.
18 §252. School master plans for supporting student behavior and discipline
19 A. * * *
20 (2) The model master plan may include but need not be limited to guidelines
21 for accomplishing the following:
22 * * *
23 (h) Improving methods and procedures for the handling of Reducing school
24 suspensions, the referral of students to alternative schools, and the use of seclusion
25 and physical restraint in addressing challenging student behavior.
26 * * *
27 §253. Advisory Council on Student Behavior and Discipline
28 * * *
29 G. The advisory council shall annually submit a written report to the Senate
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 150
SLS 20RS-117 ORIGINAL
1 Committee on Education, the House Committee on Education, and the State Board
2 of Elementary and Secondary Education regarding its findings and recommendations
3 with respect to the implementation of school master plans for improving student
4 behavior and discipline as provided in R.S. 17:252.
5 Section 2. R.S. 17:223.1 is hereby repealed.
6 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
7 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
8 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
9 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
10 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett
DIGEST
SB 150 Original 2020 Regular Session Carter
Present law generally provides for alternative schools and alternative education programs
for children whose behavior is disruptive.
Proposed law retains present law and further provides that alternative schools may be
provided for students who are at risk of dropping out.
Present law requires a model master plan for supporting behavior and discipline. Further
requires the plan to include guidelines for improving methods and procedures for the
handling of suspensions, referrals to alternative schools, and the use of seclusion and
physical restraint.
Present law provides that certain students exhibiting problem behavior shall be labeled as
delinquents and may be placed in an alternative setting.
Proposed law repeals present law as related to labeling a child as delinquent but retains
provisions relative to alternative education.
Proposed law instead requires the model master plan guidelines to accomplish reducing
suspensions, referrals to alternative schools, and the use of seclusion and physical restraint.
Present law provides for the Advisory Council on Student Behavior and Discipline. Further
provides for the advisory council to annually submit a report to the Senate and House
Committees on Education and to the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
(BESE).
Proposed law provides that the annual report be submitted only to BESE.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:100.5(A), 224, 252(A)(2)(h), 253(G); repeals R.S. 17:223.1)
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.