HB 23-1291 Summary

• Requires school districts to provide all evidence records to students or their parents at least two business days before expulsion hearings and immediately upon discovery of any additional records.

• Mandates that the Department of Education create an online training program for expulsion hearing officers by June 30, 2024, with initial five-hour training required within 30 days of hire and annual refresher training covering child development, restorative justice, alternatives to expulsion, trauma-informed practices, and bias in discipline.

• Prohibits hearing officers from presiding over expulsion cases if they investigated or reported the incident, and requires training on impartiality and conflict of interest avoidance; failure to complete required training is an abuse of discretion beginning January 1, 2025.

• Requires school districts to consider alternative remedies and whether excluding students is necessary before expelling or denying admission, and mandates that expulsion hearings include specific findings regarding factors listed in existing law.

• Appropriates $162,720 to the Department of Education for the 2023-24 fiscal year to implement expulsion hearing officer training and support.