HB299 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ed Henry

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Local boards of education prohibited from adopting or enforcing zero tolerance policy relating to drugs, alcohol, weapons, physical harm to a person, or threatened physical harm to a person, punishment on case-by-case basis, Secs. 16-1-24.1, 16-1-24.3 am'd.

Summary

HB299 ends zero-tolerance discipline in Alabama public schools and requires case-by-case punishment, while clarifying firearm-related discipline.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits local boards of education from adopting or enforcing zero-tolerance policies for drugs, alcohol, weapons, physical harm, or threatened physical harm. It requires punishments to be appropriate for the offense and decided on a case-by-case basis, with uniform state policies and discipline plans guiding decisions. It clarifies that a one-year expulsion for possessing a firearm on school property is not a zero-tolerance policy and defines firearm narrowly. It requires schools to notify law enforcement for violations, suspend the student and hold a hearing within five school days, and set readmission conditions (which may include counseling or evaluations) after disposition.

Who It Affects

• Students enrolled in public schools in Alabama — the bill changes how they can be disciplined, requiring case-by-case determinations and outlining readmission conditions after violations; they may also be directed to counseling or evaluations as part of readmission.
• Local boards of education and school administrators — they must develop, modify, and uniformly enforce discipline policies, implement discipline plans, coordinate with law enforcement, and manage suspensions, hearings, and readmission decisions.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits zero-tolerance policies for drugs, alcohol, weapons, physical harm, or threatened physical harm; requires case-by-case discipline and uniform penalties under state policy.
• Explicitly states that one-year firearm expulsions are not zero-tolerance and narrows the definition of firearm in line with federal law (18 U.S.C. 921).
• Requires principals to notify law enforcement for violations, suspend the student and hold a hearing within five school days, and consider the student’s exceptional status when applicable; readmission depends on disposition of charges and compliance with local policy, potentially including counseling or evaluations.
• Requires local districts to distribute discipline plans to students and guardians, perform annual reviews of those plans, and include responsibilities for parents or guardians in disciplinary processes.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education