HB299 Alabama 2016 Session

Under existing law, at the beginning of each school year local boards of education are required to adopt and make available codes of student conduct that describe specific grounds for disciplinary action and explain the responsibilities and rights of students with regard to attendance, conduct, and other matters

Also under existing law, local boards of education are required to develop and implement local policies and procedures requiring the one-year expulsion of students who have brought to school or have in their possession a firearm in a school building, on school grounds, on school buses, or at other school-sponsored functions

This bill would require local boards of education to impose punishment in an offense appropriate manner on a case-by-case basis and would prohibit any local board of education from adopting and enforcing any so-called "zero tolerance" policies relating to rules of student conduct

This bill would also provide that the one-year expulsion for possession of a firearm on school property is not a zero tolerance policy and would clarify that the definition of firearm should be narrowly construed

To amend Sections 16-1-24.1 and 16-1-24.3, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to safe school and drug-free school policies and firearm-free schools; to provide legislative intent; to prohibit a local board of education from adopting or enforcing a zero tolerance policy; to require any punishment imposed to be on a case-by-case basis and appropriate for the offense committed; to provide that the one-year expulsion for possession of a firearm on school property is not a zero tolerance policy; and to clarify the definition of firearm.