PA 07-122—HB 7273

Education Committee

AN ACT CONCERNING SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS BY LOCAL AND REGIONAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION

SUMMARY: This act allows a school administration to shorten or waive suspension periods for students who have not previously had either a suspension or expulsion imposed on them if the students complete an administration-specified program and meet any other administration-required conditions. The act allows a board of education to take the same action with regard to an expulsion for such students if they complete a board-specified program and requirements. The law already allows administrations to determine suspension periods and boards to determine expulsion periods, but only specifically allows for modifications, on a case-by-case basis by the board, where the law requires a student to be expelled for a year because he or she possessed a weapon or sold drugs.

The act prohibits the programs from charging students or their parents or guardians a fee to participate. Finally, it requires local boards to expunge the required notice of the disciplinary action from the student's cumulative record when it has been waived or shortened pursuant to the act and the student graduates high school or, if the board or administration chooses, completes the specified program and requirements, whichever is earlier. The law previously only required the notice, except for a notice of an expulsion based on possession of a firearm, to be expunged when the student graduated from high school.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2007

OLR Tracking: SC: KM: CR: TS