EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*sb1032*
SENATE BILL 1032
F1 4lr3059
CF 4lr3057
By: Senator Carter
Introduced and read first time: February 2, 2024
Assigned to: Education, Energy, and the Environment
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Public Schools – Student Use of Force – Authorization 2
FOR the purpose of authorizing a student to take reasonable action necessary to prevent 3
violence on school premises or on a school–sponsored trip; authorizing a student to 4
use reasonable force necessary to protect themselves or escape an attack under 5
certain circumstances; requiring the principal or school administration to investigate 6
each student use of force incident; prohibiting a school employee from disciplining a 7
student under certain circumstances; and generally relating to student use of force 8
incidents. 9
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 10
Article – Education 11
Section 7–307(a) 12
Annotated Code of Maryland 13
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 14
BY adding to 15
Article – Education 16
Section 7–311 17
Annotated Code of Maryland 18
(2022 Replacement Volume and 2023 Supplement) 19
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 20
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 21
Article – Education 22
7–307. 23
(a) (1) A principal, teacher, school security guard, STUDENT, or other school 24 2 SENATE BILL 1032
system personnel in any public school may take reasonable action necessary to prevent 1
violence on school premises or on a school–sponsored trip, including intervening in a fight 2
or physical struggle that takes place in his or her presence, whether the fight is among 3
students or other individuals. 4
(2) The degree and force of the intervention may be as reasonably 5
necessary to prevent violence, restore order and to protect the safety of the combatants and 6
surrounding individuals. 7
7–311. 8
(A) A STUDENT WHO IS PHYSI CALLY ATTACKED ON SC HOOL PROPERTY 9
DURING SCHOOL HOURS MAY USE FORCE REASON ABLY NECESSARY TO PR OTECT 10
THEMSELVES OR TO ESC APE THE ATTACK . 11
(B) (1) THE PRINCIPAL OR SCHO OL ADMINISTRATION SH ALL 12
INVESTIGATE EACH USE OF FORCE INCIDENT DE SCRIBED UNDER SUBSEC TION (A) 13
OF THIS SECTION. 14
(2) A SCHOOL EMPLOYEE MAY NOT DISCIPLINE A STU DENT WHO, 15
AFTER THE INVESTIGAT ION REQUIRED UNDER P ARAGRAPH (1) OF THIS 16
SUBSECTION, MORE LIKELY THAN NOT USED FORCE CONSISTEN T WITH SUBSECTION 17
(A) OF THIS SECTION. 18
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 19
1, 2024. 20