GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 411 2021 Regular Session Hughes
STUDENT/DISCIPLINE: Provides relative to student discipline.
DIGEST
Present law provides relative to student discipline. Proposed law provides a comprehensive
revision of present law, applicable to all public schools, including charter schools.
Specific changes include the following:
(1)Requires school boards to adopt student codes of conduct and generally requires that
students be disciplined for violations of such codes rather than for a list of specific
behaviors defined by law. Requires that such codes of conduct include progressive
levels of minor through major infractions and identify corresponding minor through
major interventions and consequences.
(2)Provides additional disciplinary measures a principal may implement before
returning a student to the classroom.
(3)Provides that conferences with parents may be held by telephone or virtual means.
(4)Makes present law requirements for discussions with the student and parents prior
to a suspension also applicable to assignment to alternative placements and
expulsions.
(5)Present law prohibits readmission to school of a student who damaged school
property until payment has been made for the damage. Proposed law makes the
provision applicable to damage to any property on school grounds or owned by an
employee or student. Proposed law also authorizes readmission of the student if
alternative restitution or an alternative payment plan has been arranged.
(6)Relative to students carrying knives, increases the minimum length of a knife blade
for which suspension is required from two to two and one-half inches.
(7)Requires prescription medicines be carried in their original packaging.
(8)Requires that expulsion hearings be held within 15 school days.
(9)Limits the length of certain expulsions for criminal behavior to the student's period
of disposition as determined by a court.
(10)Requires the Dept. of Education to publish data on disciplinary removals.
(11) Requires charter schools to fully comply with the student discipline statutes.
(Amends R.S. 17:416 and 3996(B)(40))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill:
1. Exempt students receiving virtual instruction at home from mandatory
recommendation for expulsion.
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Prepared by Cheryl Serrett. 2. Exempt certain school boards with schools returned from the Recovery School
District from the student expulsion process provided for in proposed law.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the re-
reengrossed bill
1. Restores present law provisions relative to students found guilty of possessing a
firearm or illegal narcotics on school grounds.
2. Makes technical changes.
3. Makes charter schools fully comply with the student discipline statutes.
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Prepared by Cheryl Serrett.