GA HR1829

Georgia House Resolution urging schools and boards of education to adopt evidence-based discipline policies for student vaping instead of zero-tolerance approaches that rely on suspensions and expulsions.

18.2% of Georgia high school students currently use e-cigarettes, more than double the national average, with over 2.1 million middle and high school students vaping nationwide.

E-cigarette use is the second leading disciplinary incident in Georgia public schools, with more than 50% of school vaping cases resulting in long-term suspensions or expulsions.

Research cited shows suspensions of 10 days or more can cut students' likelihood of graduating in half, leading to higher rates of chronic illness, homelessness, and justice involvement.

Schools are encouraged to use alternative-to-suspension programs such as the Georgia Department of Public Health's "Opt-Out Live Vape Free Program," the American Lung Association's INDEPTH and N-O-T programs, and behavioral health services through the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.