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ME LD2204

Bill

Status

Introduced

2/10/2026

Primary Sponsor

Craig Hickman

Click for details

Origin

Senate

132nd Legislature

AI Summary

  • Requires school boards to adopt a policy for expelling any student, regardless of grade level, who is determined to have committed sexual assault (as defined in Maine criminal law, Title 17-A, chapter 11) on school grounds or other school property
  • Mandates expulsion for a minimum of one year for students found to have committed sexual assault, though school boards may authorize the superintendent to modify the expulsion requirement in writing on a case-by-case basis
  • Requires school boards to refer sexual assault matters to the appropriate local law enforcement agency
  • Creates an exception to Maine's existing protections for students in grade 5 or below, which generally prohibit out-of-school suspensions or expulsions for young students and limit suspensions to 3 days, allowing these disciplinary actions under the new sexual assault provisions
  • Preserves existing due process and investigation requirements, permits principals to immediately suspend students determined to have committed sexual assault, and requires that placement changes for students with disabilities comply with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Legislative Description

An Act to Allow Schools to Expel Students for Committing Sexual Assault

School Policies

Last Action

Voted: OTP-AM

3/11/2026

Committee Referrals

Education And Cultural Affairs2/10/2026

Full Bill Text

No bill text available