S.B. 177 - *SB177* SENATE BILL NO. 177–SENATOR OHRENSCHALL PREFILED FEBRUARY 3, 2025 ____________ Referred to Committee on Education SUMMARY—Revises provisions relating to education. (BDR 34-942) FISCAL NOTE: Effect on Local Government: May have Fiscal Impact. Effect on the State: No. ~ EXPLANATION – Matter in bolded italics is new; matter between brackets [omitted material] is material to be omitted. AN ACT relating to education; revising the requirement for the principal of a school to consult with certain persons before determining that a homeless pupil or pupil in foster care is a habitual disciplinary problem or suspending or expelling such a pupil; revising certain presumptions used when determining whether homelessness or placement in foster care is a factor in the behavior of certain pupils; and providing other matters properly relating thereto. Legislative Counsel’s Digest: Existing law establishes the process for the principal of a school to determine 1 that a pupil who is 11 years of age or older and enrolled in the school is a habitual 2 disciplinary problem. (NRS 392.4655) Under existing law, if a pupil who is 11 3 years of age or older is deemed a habitual disciplinary problem and the school has 4 made a reasonable effort to complete a plan of action based on restorative justice 5 with the pupil, the principal is generally authorized to suspend the pupil, or under 6 extraordinary circumstances, expel the pupil from the school. (NRS 392.466) 7 Existing law provides that before a pupil who is homeless or in foster care may be 8 determined to be a habitual disciplinary problem, the principal is required to consult 9 with certain persons. (NRS 392.4655) Section 1 of this bill requires the principal to 10 conduct a meeting with those persons rather than consult with those persons. 11 Section 1 also requires such a meeting concerning a pupil who is in foster care to 12 additionally include the educational decision maker appointed for the pupil by a 13 court under existing law. (NRS 432B.462) 14 Existing law requires that, to suspend or expel from school a pupil who is 15 homeless or has been placed in foster care, a determination must be made, after 16 consultation with certain persons, that homelessness or being in foster care was not 17 a factor in the behavior of the pupil. Under existing law, the person responsible for 18 making such a determination is required to presume that homelessness or being in 19 foster care was not a factor in the behavior and make the determination in 20 – 2 – - *SB177* consultation with certain persons. (NRS 392.466, 392.467) Sections 2 and 3 of this 21 bill change the presumption used to determine whether homeless or being in foster 22 care was a factor in the behavior of the pupil by requiring the person responsible for 23 making the determination to presume that homelessness or being in foster care was 24 a factor in the behavior. Sections 2 and 3 also require: (1) the person making the 25 determining to conduct a meeting with certain persons rather than consult with 26 those persons; and (2) such a meeting concerning a pupil who is in foster care to 27 additionally include the educational decision maker appointed for the pupil by a 28 court under existing law. (NRS 432B.462) 29 THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. NRS 392.4655 is hereby amended to read as 1 follows: 2 392.4655 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a 3 principal of a school shall deem a pupil who is at least 11 years of 4 age and enrolled in the school a habitual disciplinary problem if the 5 school has written evidence which documents that in 1 school year: 6 (a) The pupil has threatened or extorted, or attempted to threaten 7 or extort, another pupil or a teacher or other personnel employed by 8 the school two or more times or the pupil has a record of five 9 significant suspensions from the school for any reason; 10 (b) The school has made reasonable efforts to develop a plan of 11 behavior pursuant to subsection 5 and the pupil has not made efforts 12 to enter into or participate in such a plan of behavior; 13 (c) The homelessness of the pupil was not a factor in his or her 14 behavior, as determined [in consultation] after conducting a 15 meeting with the local educational agency liaison for homeless 16 pupils designated in accordance with the McKinney-Vento 17 Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11301 et seq., or a 18 contact person at a school, including, without limitation, a school 19 counselor or school social worker; and 20 (d) The placement in foster care of the pupil was not a factor in 21 his or her behavior, as determined [in consultation] after conducting 22 a meeting with a contact person at the school, including, without 23 limitation, a school counselor or school social worker [.] , and the 24 educational decision maker appointed for the pupil pursuant to 25 NRS 432B.462. 26 2. At least one teacher of a pupil who is enrolled in elementary 27 school and at least two teachers of a pupil who is enrolled in junior 28 high, middle school or high school may request that the principal of 29 the school deem a pupil a habitual disciplinary problem. Upon such 30 a request, the principal of the school shall meet with each teacher 31 who made the request to review the pupil’s record of discipline. If, 32 after the review, the principal of the school determines that the 33 – 3 – - *SB177* provisions of subsection 1 do not apply to the pupil, a teacher who 1 submitted a request pursuant to this subsection may appeal that 2 determination to the superintendent of the school district or the 3 administrative head of the charter school or university school for 4 profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable. Upon receipt of such a 5 request, the superintendent or administrative head shall review the 6 initial request and determination pursuant to the procedure 7 established by the board of trustees of the school district or the 8 governing body of the charter school or university school for 9 profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, for such matters. 10 3. If a pupil is suspended, the school in which the pupil is 11 enrolled shall provide written notice to the parent or legal guardian 12 of the pupil or, if the pupil is an unaccompanied pupil, the pupil that 13 contains: 14 (a) A description of the act committed by the pupil and the date 15 on which the act was committed; 16 (b) An explanation that if the pupil receives five significant 17 suspensions on his or her record during the current school year and 18 has not entered into and participated in a plan of behavior pursuant 19 to subsection 5, the pupil will be deemed a habitual disciplinary 20 problem; 21 (c) An explanation that, pursuant to subsection 8 of NRS 22 392.466, a pupil who is deemed a habitual disciplinary problem may 23 be: 24 (1) Suspended from school; or 25 (2) Expelled from school under extraordinary circumstances 26 as determined by the principal of the school; 27 (d) If the pupil is a pupil with a disability, an explanation of the 28 effect of subsection 12 of NRS 392.466, including, without 29 limitation, that if it is determined in accordance with 20 U.S.C. § 30 1415 that the pupil’s behavior is not a manifestation of the pupil’s 31 disability, he or she may be suspended or expelled from school in 32 the same manner as a pupil without a disability; and 33 (e) A summary of the provisions of subsection 5. 34 4. A school shall provide the notice required by subsection 3 35 for each suspension on the record of a pupil during a school year. 36 Such notice must be provided at least 7 days before the school 37 deems the pupil a habitual disciplinary problem. 38 5. If a pupil, including, without limitation, a pupil who is less 39 than 11 years of age, is suspended, the school in which the pupil is 40 enrolled shall develop, in consultation with the pupil and the parent 41 or legal guardian of the pupil, a plan of behavior for the pupil. The 42 parent or legal guardian of the pupil or, if the pupil is an 43 unaccompanied pupil, the pupil may choose for the pupil not to 44 participate in the plan of behavior. If the parent or legal guardian of 45 – 4 – - *SB177* the pupil or the pupil chooses for the pupil not to participate, the 1 school shall inform the parent or legal guardian or the pupil of the 2 consequences of not participating in the plan of behavior. Such a 3 plan must be designed to prevent the pupil from being deemed a 4 habitual disciplinary problem and may include, without limitation: 5 (a) A plan for graduating if the pupil is deficient in credits and 6 not likely to graduate according to schedule. 7 (b) Information regarding schools with a mission to serve pupils 8 who have been: 9 (1) Expelled or suspended from a public school, including, 10 without limitation, a charter school; or 11 (2) Deemed to be a habitual disciplinary problem pursuant to 12 this section. 13 (c) A voluntary agreement by the parent or legal guardian to 14 attend school with his or her child. 15 (d) A voluntary agreement by the pupil and, if the pupil is not an 16 unaccompanied pupil, the pupil’s parent or legal guardian to attend 17 counseling, programs or services available in the school, school 18 district or community. 19 (e) A voluntary agreement by the pupil and, if the pupil is not an 20 unaccompanied pupil, the pupil’s parent or legal guardian that the 21 pupil will attend summer school, intersession school or school on 22 Saturday, if any of those alternatives are offered by the school or 23 school district. 24 6. If a pupil commits the same act for which notice was 25 provided pursuant to subsection 3 after he or she enters into a plan 26 of behavior pursuant to subsection 5, the pupil shall be deemed to 27 have not successfully completed the plan of behavior and may be 28 deemed a habitual disciplinary problem. 29 7. A pupil may, pursuant to the provisions of this section, enter 30 into one plan of behavior per school year. 31 8. The parent or legal guardian of a pupil or, if the pupil is an 32 unaccompanied pupil, a pupil who has entered into a plan of 33 behavior with a school pursuant to this section may appeal to the 34 superintendent of the school district or the administrative head of 35 the charter school or university school for profoundly gifted pupils, 36 as applicable, a determination made by the school concerning the 37 contents of the plan of behavior or action taken by the school 38 pursuant to the plan of behavior. Upon receipt of such a request, the 39 superintendent of the school district or the administrative head of 40 the charter school or university school for profoundly gifted pupils, 41 as applicable, shall review the determination in accordance with the 42 procedure established by the board of trustees of the school district 43 or the governing body of the charter school or university school for 44 profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, for such matters. 45 – 5 – - *SB177* 9. As used in this section: 1 (a) “Foster care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 45 C.F.R. § 2 1355.20. 3 (b) “Significant suspension” means the school in which the 4 pupil is enrolled: 5 (1) Prohibits the pupil from attending school for 3 or more 6 consecutive days; and 7 (2) Requires a conference or some other form of 8 communication with the parent or legal guardian of the pupil before 9 the pupil is allowed to return to school. 10 (c) “Unaccompanied pupil” has the meaning ascribed to the term 11 “unaccompanied youth” in 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(6). 12 Sec. 2. NRS 392.466 is hereby amended to read as follows: 13 392.466 1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any 14 pupil who sells or distributes any controlled substance while on the 15 premises of any public school, at an activity sponsored by a public 16 school or on any school bus shall meet with the school and his or 17 her parent or legal guardian. The school shall provide a plan of 18 action based on restorative justice to the parent or legal guardian of 19 the pupil or, if the pupil is an unaccompanied pupil, the pupil. The 20 pupil may be suspended, expelled or permanently expelled from the 21 school, except that: 22 (a) A pupil who is less than 11 years of age may not be expelled 23 or permanently expelled pursuant to this subsection. 24 (b) A pupil who is less than 6 years of age may be suspended 25 pursuant to this subsection, and the suspension must be reviewed 26 and approved by the superintendent of the school district or the 27 administrative head of the charter school or university school for 28 profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, or his or her designee. 29 (c) For a pupil with a disability who has been suspended or 30 expelled pursuant to this subsection, the school in which the pupil is 31 enrolled shall make available to the pupil a free appropriate public 32 education in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities 33 Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., for each school day the 34 pupil is suspended or expelled after the pupil has been removed for 35 10 cumulative days. 36 2. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any pupil who 37 commits a battery against an employee of the school while on the 38 premises of any public school, at an activity sponsored by a public 39 school or on any school bus shall meet with the school and his or 40 her parent or legal guardian. The school shall provide a plan of 41 action based on restorative justice to the parent or legal guardian of 42 the pupil or, if the pupil is an unaccompanied pupil, the pupil. The 43 pupil may be suspended, expelled or permanently expelled from the 44 school, except that: 45 – 6 – - *SB177* (a) A pupil who is less than 8 years of age may not be expelled 1 or permanently expelled pursuant to this subsection. 2 (b) A pupil who is less than 6 years of age may be suspended 3 pursuant to this subsection, and the suspension must be reviewed 4 and approved by the superintendent of the school district or the 5 administrative head of the charter school or university school for 6 profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, or his or her designee. 7 (c) For a pupil with a disability who has been suspended or 8 expelled pursuant to this subsection, the school in which the pupil is 9 enrolled shall make available to the pupil a free appropriate public 10 education in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities 11 Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., for each school day the 12 pupil is suspended or expelled after the pupil has been removed for 13 10 cumulative days. 14 3. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any pupil who 15 commits a battery which is intended to result in the bodily injury of 16 an employee of the school while on the premises of any public 17 school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on any school 18 bus shall meet with the school and his or her parent or legal 19 guardian. The school shall provide a plan of action based on 20 restorative justice to the parent or legal guardian of the pupil or, if 21 the pupil is an unaccompanied pupil, the pupil. The pupil must be 22 suspended, expelled or permanently expelled from the school, 23 except that: 24 (a) A pupil who is less than 8 years of age may not be expelled 25 or permanently expelled pursuant to this subsection. 26 (b) A pupil who is less than 6 years of age may be suspended 27 pursuant to this subsection, and the suspension must be reviewed 28 and approved by the superintendent of the school district or the 29 administrative head of the charter school or university school for 30 profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, or his or her designee. 31 (c) For a pupil with a disability who has been suspended or 32 expelled pursuant to this subsection, the school in which the pupil is 33 enrolled shall make available to the pupil a free appropriate public 34 education in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities 35 Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., for each school day the 36 pupil is suspended or expelled after the pupil has been removed for 37 10 cumulative days. 38 4. An employee who is a victim of a battery which is intended 39 to result in the bodily injury of an employee of the school may 40 appeal to the school a plan of action provided pursuant to subsection 41 3 if: 42 (a) The employee feels any actions taken pursuant to such plan 43 are inappropriate; and 44 – 7 – - *SB177* (b) For a pupil with a disability who committed the battery, the 1 board of trustees of the school district or the governing body of the 2 charter school or university school for profoundly gifted pupils, as 3 applicable, or its designee has reviewed the circumstances and 4 determined that such an appeal is in compliance with the Individuals 5 with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq. 6 5. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any pupil, 7 including, without limitation, a pupil with a disability, who poses a 8 continuing danger to persons or property or an ongoing threat of 9 disrupting the academic process or who is found in possession of a 10 dangerous weapon other than a firearm while on the premises of any 11 public school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on any 12 school bus may be removed from the public school immediately 13 upon being given an explanation of the reasons for the removal of 14 the pupil and pending proceedings, which must be conducted as 15 soon as practicable after removal, for his or her suspension, 16 expulsion or permanent expulsion, except that: 17 (a) A pupil who is less than 11 years of age may not be expelled 18 or permanently expelled pursuant to this subsection. 19 (b) A pupil who is less than 6 years of age may be suspended 20 pursuant to this subsection only after the suspension is reviewed and 21 approved by the superintendent of the school district or the 22 administrative head of the charter school or university school for 23 profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, or his or her designee. 24 (c) For a pupil with a disability who has been suspended or 25 expelled pursuant to this subsection, the public school in which the 26 pupil is enrolled shall make available to the pupil a free appropriate 27 public education in compliance with the Individuals with 28 Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., for each 29 school day the pupil is suspended or expelled after the pupil has 30 been removed for 10 cumulative days. 31 6. Except as otherwise provided in this section, any pupil, 32 including, without limitation, a pupil with a disability, who is found 33 in possession of a firearm while on the premises of any public 34 school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on any school 35 bus must be removed from the public school immediately upon 36 being given an explanation of the reasons for the removal of the 37 pupil and pending proceedings, which must be conducted as soon as 38 practicable after removal, for his or her suspension, expulsion or 39 permanent expulsion. A pupil who is: 40 (a) Eleven years of age or older shall be suspended, expelled or 41 permanently expelled pursuant to this section. 42 (b) At least 8 but less than 11 years of age shall be suspended or 43 expelled pursuant to this subsection. 44 – 8 – - *SB177* (c) At least 6 but less than 8 years of age may be suspended 1 pursuant to this subsection. 2 (d) Less than 6 years of age may be suspended pursuant to this 3 subsection only after the suspension is reviewed and approved by 4 the superintendent of the school district or the administrative head 5 of the charter school or university school for profoundly gifted 6 pupils, as applicable, or his or her designee. 7 (e) A pupil with a disability who has been suspended or expelled 8 pursuant to this subsection must be provided with a free appropriate 9 public education in compliance with the Individuals with 10 Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., by the public 11 school in which the pupil is enrolled for each school day the pupil is 12 suspended or expelled after the pupil has been removed for 10 13 cumulative days. 14 7. If a school is unable to retain a pupil in the school pursuant 15 to subsections 1 to 6, inclusive, for the safety of any person or 16 because doing so would not be in the best interest of the pupil, the 17 pupil may be suspended, expelled or placed in another school. If a 18 pupil, including, without limitation, a pupil who is less than 11 years 19 of age, is placed in another school, the current school of the pupil 20 shall explain what services will be provided to the pupil at the new 21 school that the current school is unable to provide to address the 22 specific needs and behaviors of the pupil. The current school of the 23 pupil shall coordinate with the new school to create a plan of action 24 based on restorative justice for the pupil and to ensure that any 25 resources required to execute the plan of action based on restorative 26 justice are available at the new school. 27 8. Except as otherwise provided in this section, if a pupil is 28 deemed a habitual disciplinary problem pursuant to NRS 392.4655 29 and the school has made a reasonable effort to complete a plan of 30 action based on restorative justice with the pupil, based on the 31 seriousness of the acts which were the basis for the discipline, the 32 pupil may be: 33 (a) Suspended from the school; or 34 (b) Expelled from the school under extraordinary circumstances 35 as determined by the principal of the school. 36 9. If the pupil is expelled, or the period of the pupil’s 37 suspension is for one school semester, the pupil must: 38 (a) Enroll in a private school pursuant to chapter 394 of NRS or 39 be homeschooled; 40 (b) Enroll in a program of independent study provided pursuant 41 to NRS 389.155 for pupils who have been suspended or expelled 42 from public school or a program of distance education provided 43 pursuant to NRS 388.820 to 388.874, inclusive, if the pupil qualifies 44 – 9 – - *SB177* for enrollment and is accepted for enrollment in accordance with the 1 requirements of the applicable program; or 2 (c) Enroll in a program of alternative education provided by the 3 school district in which the pupil resides. Each school district shall, 4 alone or through a partnership with another school district, provide a 5 program of alternative education pursuant to this paragraph in an in-6 person setting that allows each pupil enrolled in the program to 7 receive educational services in the least restrictive educational 8 environment. 9 10. The superintendent of schools of a school district or the 10 administrative head of a charter school or university school for 11 profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, may, for good cause shown 12 in a particular case in that school district or public school, as 13 applicable, allow a modification to a suspension or expulsion 14 pursuant to subsections 1 to 8, inclusive, if such modification is set 15 forth in writing. The superintendent or the administrative head of a 16 charter school or university school for profoundly gifted pupils, as 17 applicable, shall allow such a modification if he or she determines 18 that a plan of action based on restorative justice may be used 19 successfully. 20 11. This section does not prohibit a pupil from having in his or 21 her possession a knife or firearm with the approval of the principal 22 of the school. A principal may grant such approval only in 23 accordance with the policies or regulations adopted by the board of 24 trustees of the school district or the governing body of the charter 25 school or university school for profoundly gifted pupils, as 26 applicable. 27 12. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 5 or 6, a pupil 28 with a disability who is at least 11 years of age may, in accordance 29 with the procedural policy adopted by the board of trustees of the 30 school district or the governing body of the charter school or 31 university school for profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, for 32 such matters and only after the board of trustees of the school 33 district or governing body, as applicable, or its designee has 34 reviewed the circumstances and determined that the action is in 35 compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 36 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., be: 37 (a) Suspended from school pursuant to this section for not more 38 than 10 days. Such a suspension may be imposed pursuant to this 39 paragraph for each occurrence of conduct proscribed by 40 subsection 1. 41 (b) Expelled from school pursuant to this section. 42 (c) Permanently expelled from school pursuant to this section. 43 13. A homeless pupil or a pupil in foster care may be 44 suspended from school pursuant to this section for not more than 5 45 – 10 – - *SB177* days if, following a review of all available information [,] and, if an 1 educational decision maker has been appointed for the pupil 2 pursuant to NRS 432B.462, a meeting with the educational 3 decision maker for the pupil, the principal determines that the 4 conduct of the pupil poses an ongoing threat to the pupil or other 5 persons at the school and if a determination is made that 6 homelessness or being in foster care was not a factor in the behavior 7 that led to the consideration for suspension or expulsion. The person 8 responsible for making a determination of whether or not 9 homelessness or being in foster care was a factor in the behavior 10 shall presume that homelessness or being in foster care was [not] a 11 factor in the behavior unless the person determines otherwise 12 pursuant to this subsection. A determination that homelessness was 13 not a factor in the behavior must be made [in consultation] after 14 conducting a meeting with the local educational agency liaison for 15 homeless pupils designated in accordance with the McKinney-Vento 16 Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11301 et seq., or a 17 contact person at a school, including, without limitation, a school 18 counselor or school social worker. A determination that being in 19 foster care was not a factor in the behavior must be made [in 20 consultation] after conducting a meeting with an advocate for 21 pupils in foster care at the school in which the pupil is enrolled or 22 the school counselor of the pupil [.] and, if an educational decision 23 maker has been appointed for the pupil pursuant to NRS 24 432B.462, the educational decision maker for the pupil. 25 14. The principal of a public school may, at his or her 26 discretion, reduce or eliminate the period of suspension, convert an 27 expulsion to a suspension or otherwise reduce, eliminate or alter a 28 disciplinary action imposed upon a pupil who commits a battery 29 which results in the bodily injury of an employee of the school. 30 15. The principal of a public school may reduce the period of 31 suspension or convert an expulsion to a suspension for a pupil who 32 distributes a controlled substance while on the premises of a public 33 school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on a school 34 bus if: 35 (a) The pupil is less than 11 years of age; 36 (b) The pupil has not engaged in such proscribed conduct 37 before; and 38 (c) After a thorough review of the facts and circumstances, the 39 principal determines that the pupil did not know that the substance 40 being distributed was a controlled substance. 41 16. The provisions of chapter 241 of NRS do not apply to any 42 hearing or proceeding conducted pursuant to this section. Such 43 hearings or proceedings must be closed to the public. 44 17. As used in this section: 45 – 11 – - *SB177* (a) “Battery” has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph (a) of 1 subsection 1 of NRS 200.481. 2 (b) “Bodily injury” means any actual damage or injury to a 3 person that interferes with or is detrimental to the health of the 4 person and is more than merely accidental, transient or trifling in 5 nature. 6 (c) “Dangerous weapon” includes, without limitation, a 7 blackjack, slungshot, billy, sand-club, sandbag, metal knuckles, dirk 8 or dagger, a nunchaku or trefoil, as defined in NRS 202.350, a 9 butterfly knife or any other knife described in NRS 202.350, a 10 switchblade knife as defined in NRS 202.265, or any other object 11 which is used, or threatened to be used, in such a manner and under 12 such circumstances as to pose a threat of, or cause, bodily injury to a 13 person. 14 (d) “Firearm” includes, without limitation, any pistol, revolver, 15 shotgun, explosive substance or device, and any other item included 16 within the definition of a “firearm” in 18 U.S.C. § 921, as that 17 section existed on July 1, 1995. 18 (e) “Foster care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 45 C.F.R. § 19 1355.20. 20 (f) “Homeless pupil” has the meaning ascribed to the term 21 “homeless children and youths” in 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2). 22 (g) “Permanently expelled” means the disciplinary removal of a 23 pupil from the school in which the pupil is currently enrolled: 24 (1) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (2), 25 without the possibility of returning to the school in which the pupil 26 is currently enrolled or another public school within the school 27 district; and 28 (2) With the possibility of enrolling in a program or public 29 school for alternative education for pupils who are expelled or 30 permanently expelled after being permanently expelled. 31 (h) “Restorative justice” has the meaning ascribed to it in 32 NRS 392.472. 33 (i) “Unaccompanied pupil” has the meaning ascribed to the term 34 “unaccompanied youth” in 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(6). 35 18. The provisions of this section do not prohibit a pupil who is 36 suspended or expelled from enrolling in a charter school that is 37 designed exclusively for the enrollment of pupils with disciplinary 38 problems if the pupil is accepted for enrollment by the charter 39 school pursuant to NRS 388A.453 or 388A.456. Upon request, the 40 governing body of a charter school must be provided with access to 41 the records of the pupil relating to the pupil’s suspension or 42 expulsion in accordance with applicable federal and state law before 43 the governing body makes a decision concerning the enrollment of 44 the pupil. 45 – 12 – - *SB177* Sec. 3. NRS 392.467 is hereby amended to read as follows: 1 392.467 1. Except as otherwise provided in subsections 5 and 2 6 and NRS 392.466, the board of trustees of a school district or the 3 governing body of a charter school or university school for 4 profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, or its designee may 5 authorize the suspension or expulsion of any pupil who is at least 11 6 years of age from a public school. Except as otherwise provided in 7 this subsection and subsections 5 and 6 of NRS 392.466, a pupil 8 who is at least 6 years of age but less than 11 years of age must not 9 be expelled or permanently expelled from school. In extraordinary 10 circumstances, a school may request an exception to the prohibition 11 set forth in this subsection against expelling or permanently 12 expelling a pupil who is less than 11 years of age from school from 13 the board of trustees of the school district or the governing body of 14 the charter school or university school, as applicable. 15 2. A pupil who is less than 6 years of age must not be 16 permanently expelled from school. 17 3. Except as otherwise provided in subsection 6, no pupil may 18 be suspended or expelled until the pupil has been given notice of the 19 charges against him or her, an explanation of the evidence and an 20 opportunity to schedule a hearing, except that a pupil who: 21 (a) Poses a continuing danger to persons or property; 22 (b) Is an ongoing threat of disrupting the academic process; 23 (c) Is selling or distributing any controlled substance; or 24 (d) Is found to be in possession of a firearm or a dangerous 25 weapon as provided in NRS 392.466, 26 may be removed from the school immediately upon being given 27 an explanation of the reasons for his or her removal and pending 28 proceedings, to be conducted as soon as practicable after removal, 29 for the pupil’s suspension or expulsion. 30 4. The provisions of chapter 241 of NRS do not apply to any 31 hearing or proceeding conducted pursuant to this section. Such 32 hearings or proceedings must be closed to the public. 33 5. The board of trustees of a school district or the governing 34 body of a charter school or university school for profoundly gifted 35 pupils, as applicable, or its designee shall not authorize the 36 expulsion, suspension or removal of any pupil from the public 37 school system solely for offenses related to attendance or because 38 the pupil is declared a truant or habitual truant in accordance with 39 NRS 392.130 or 392.140. 40 6. A pupil with a disability may, in accordance with the 41 procedural policy adopted by the board of trustees of the school 42 district or the governing body of the charter school or university 43 school for profoundly gifted pupils, as applicable, for such matters 44 and only after an administrative review of the circumstances and a 45 – 13 – - *SB177* determination that the action is in compliance with the Individuals 1 with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq., be: 2 (a) Suspended from school pursuant to this section for not more 3 than 10 days for each occurrence of proscribed conduct. 4 (b) Expelled from school pursuant to this section. 5 (c) Permanently expelled from school pursuant to this section. 6 7. A homeless pupil or a pupil in foster care may be suspended 7 from school pursuant to this section for not more than 5 days if, 8 following a review of all available information [,] and, if an 9 educational decision maker has been appointed for the pupil 10 pursuant to NRS 432B.462, a meeting with the educational 11 decision maker for the pupil, the principal determines that the 12 conduct of the pupil poses an ongoing threat to the pupil or other 13 persons at the school and if a determination is made that 14 homelessness or being in foster care was not a factor in the behavior 15 that led to the consideration for suspension or expulsion. The person 16 responsible for making a determination of whether or not 17 homelessness or being in foster care was a factor in the behavior 18 shall presume that homelessness or being in foster care was [not] a 19 factor in the behavior unless the person determines otherwise 20 pursuant to this subsection. A determination that homelessness was 21 not a factor in the behavior must be made [in consultation] after 22 conducting a meeting with the local educational agency liaison for 23 homeless pupils designated in accordance with the McKinney-Vento 24 Homeless Assistance Act of 1987, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11301 et seq., or a 25 contact person at a school, including, without limitation, a school 26 counselor or school social worker. A determination that being in 27 foster care was not a factor in the behavior must be made [in 28 consultation] after conducting a meeting with an advocate for 29 pupils in foster care at the school in which the pupil is enrolled or 30 the school counselor of the pupil [.] and, if an educational decision 31 maker has been appointed for the pupil pursuant to NRS 32 432B.462, the educational decision maker for the pupil. 33 8. As used in this section: 34 (a) “Foster care” has the meaning ascribed to it in 45 C.F.R. § 35 1355.20. 36 (b) “Homeless pupil” has the meaning ascribed to the term 37 “homeless children and youths” in 42 U.S.C. § 11434a(2). 38 (c) “Permanently expelled” means the disciplinary removal of a 39 pupil from the school in which the pupil is currently enrolled: 40 (1) Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (2), 41 without the possibility of returning to the school in which the pupil 42 is currently enrolled or another public school within the school 43 district; and 44 – 14 – - *SB177* (2) With the possibility of enrolling in a program or public 1 school for alternative education for pupils who are expelled or 2 permanently expelled after being permanently expelled. 3 Sec. 4. This act becomes effective on July 1, 2025. 4 H