SSHB411 3391 3924
HOUSE SUMMARY OF SENATE AMENDMENTS
HB 411 2021 Regular Session Hughes
STUDENT/DISCIPLINE: Provides relative to student discipline
Synopsis of Senate Amendments
1.Retain present law penalties for certain students found guilty of possessing a
firearm or a controlled substance on school property.
2.Require charter schools comply with present law relative to supervision of
expelled students and alternative education programs.
Digest of Bill as Finally Passed by Senate
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 class room.
(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 adjudication as determined by a court.
(10)Requires the Dept. of Education to publish data on disciplinary removals.
(Amends R.S. 17:416 and 3996(B)(40))
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