SB0704 Summary

• Establishes Safe Schools and Healthy Learning Environments Program allowing State Board of Education to award competitive grants to school districts that reallocate funding from school-based law enforcement to evidence-based alternatives like restorative justice, mental health services, and staff training.

• Grant funds must be matched dollar-for-dollar by participating districts and cannot be used to increase school security personnel; funds support transition away from school-based law enforcement presence.

• Prohibits student arrests or citations for criminal offenses during school hours on school grounds or at school activities except for felonies, violent crimes with serious injury, firearm use, or criminal sexual abuse; justice system involvement permitted only as last resort.

• Requires State Superintendent to submit annual reports on program progress including reductions in school-based arrests, decreased reliance on law enforcement for discipline, and impacts on school safety and climate.

• Amends School Code discipline provisions to recommend non-exclusionary alternatives before suspensions or expulsions, limit out-of-school suspensions to instances posing safety threats, and require support services for students suspended longer than 4 days.