SUSPENSION FOR VERBAL ASSAULT - S.B. 943: REVISED COMMITTEE SUMMARY
Senate Bill 943 (as introduced 1-26-00)
Sponsor: Senator Leon Stille
Committee: Education
Date Completed: 5-22-00
CONTENT
The bill would amend the Revised School Code to require a school board either to suspend or to expel a pupil, for a period of time determined by the board, if the pupil verbally assaulted a school employee or volunteer, or made a bomb threat directed at school property. (Currently, a school board must expel a pupil for up to 180 school days for that behavior.) The bill also would require a school board to make a copy of its school crime report available to parents at least annually, rather than give them a copy at least once each semester.
Verbal Assault, Bomb Threat
Under the Code, if a pupil enrolled in grade six or above commits a verbal assault, as defined by school board policy, at school against a person employed by or engaged as a volunteer or contractor by the school board and the verbal assault is reported to the school board, school district superintendent, or building principal by the victim or, if the victim is unable to report the verbal assault, by another person on the victim's behalf, or if a pupil enrolled in grade six or above makes a bomb threat or similar threat directed at a school building, other school property, or a school-related event, then the school board, or its designee on behalf of the board, must expel the pupil from the school district for up to 180 school days. Under the bill, a school board or its designee would have to suspend or expel the student for a period of time as determined in the discretion of the school board or its designee. The bill would delete reference to 180 school days.
School Crime Report
The Code requires a school board to report at least annually to the Superintendent of Public Instruction on the incidents of crime occurring at a school within the school district. The reporting must include at least crimes involving physical violence, gang-related activity, illegal possession of a controlled substance or controlled substance analogue, or other intoxicant, trespassing, and property crimes including theft and vandalism. A school board is required at least once each semester to provide a copy of the most recent school crime report available to the parent or legal guardian of each pupil enrolled in the school district. The bill, instead, would require a board to make a copy of the report available to each parent or guardian at least annually.
MCL 380.1310a & 380.1311a - Legislative Analyst: L. Arasim
FISCAL IMPACT
If districts chose to suspend and subsequently re-enroll pupils committing verbal assaults or bomb threats prior to State aid pupil counts (rather than expelling the pupils as currently mandated), then State aid payments to such districts for these pupils would be higher than under current law. This would occur because the suspended/re-enrolled students would be back in school and counted in pupil counts for State aid, rather than being permanently expelled.
Additionally, local school districts could experience savings based on the changes proposed in Section 1310a(3). Under current law, school boards must provide a copy of the most recent crime incidents report each semester to parents of pupils enrolled in the district. The bill would change the "each semester" reporting to "annual" reporting, and would require school boards simply to make the report available to all parents, not necessarily provide the report. For example, if a district chose to post the report on the Internet annually, this could potentially save the district dollars spent on copying and mailing the report to parents each semester. Since the size, type, and method of delivering crime incidents reports are unknown, it is not possible to calculate a fiscal impact.
- Fiscal Analyst: K. Summers-CotyS9900\s943sa
This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.