MI HB5618

Requires school boards, intermediate school districts, and public school academy boards to consider seven specific factors before suspending or expelling students: age, disciplinary history, disability status, violation severity, safety threat, use of restorative practices, and availability of lesser interventions.

Creates a rebuttable presumption that suspensions longer than 10 days or expulsions are unjustified unless the board demonstrates it considered all required factors; requires consideration of factors for 10-day or shorter suspensions but without the presumption.

Exempts expulsions for possessing a firearm in a weapon-free school zone from the consideration requirements and rebuttable presumption provisions.

Allows schools discretion in the method used to consider the required factors, with mandatory consideration before any suspension or expulsion.

Takes effect August 1, 2017, contingent on enactment of House Bills 5693, 5694, and 5695.