HB1398 Summary

• Changes Department of Education "guidelines" to "rules" for school district student discipline policies and requires annual review of discipline policies and data by school district personnel committees.

• Requires school discipline policies to prescribe minimum and maximum penalties for violations, including suspension or expulsion, with superintendent discretion to modify penalties on a case-by-case basis.

• Mandates minimum one-year expulsion for firearm or weapon possession on school campus, with superintendent discretion to modify the requirement on a case-by-case basis.

• Requires discipline policies to include prevention, intervention, conflict resolution provisions, and programs or alternative methods to continue student engagement and education during suspension or expulsion periods.

• Repeals the "School Discipline Act" (§ 6-18-505) and "School Dismissal Act" (§ 6-18-506), consolidating discipline policy requirements into a unified framework.