MO HB1691

Removes school districts' authority to investigate child abuse allegations involving spanking or reasonable force used by school personnel when administered per written discipline policy; the children's division shall not investigate such cases.

Requires reporting of alleged sexual abuse by school employees to the children's division under section 210.115; the district may investigate for employment purposes only, not for substantiation determinations.

Eliminates subsections 12-20 of the previous statute that outlined the joint investigation process between school districts and law enforcement for abuse allegations related to spanking or reasonable force.

Specifies that spanking by certificated personnel in presence of a witness, or reasonable force to protect persons or property per written policy, shall not be considered child abuse under chapter 210.

Retains the provision that expelled students shall not be counted as dropouts or included in educational persistence ratio calculations for school accreditation purposes.