S.B. 183 (S-3): FLOOR ANALYSIS - SUSPENSION BY TEACHER

SUSPENSION BY TEACHER - S.B. 183 (S-3): FLOOR ANALYSIS

Senate Bill 183 (Substitute S-3 as reported by the Committee of the Whole)

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Revised School Code to allow a public school teacher to suspend a pupil for up to one full school day from a class, subject, or activity, if the teacher had good reason to believe that the pupil's conduct in the class, subject, or activity constituted conduct for which the pupil could be suspended according to the local policy required under the bill.

The teacher immediately would have to report the suspension and the reason for it to the school principal or the principal's designee for appropriate action. If that action required the continued presence of the pupil at school, he or she would have to be under appropriate supervision. During the suspension, the pupil could not be returned that school day to the class, subject, or activity without the concurrence of the teacher and the principal.

As soon as possible after the suspension, the teacher would have to ask the pupil's parent or guardian to attend a parent-teacher conference regarding the suspension. Whenever practicable, a school counselor, psychologist, or social worker would have to attend the conference. A school administrator also would have to attend, upon the request of the teacher or the parent or guardian.

A school board would have to adopt a local policy specifying the types of conduct for which a teacher could suspend a pupil from a class, subject, or activity. The policy would have to be included in the board's code of student conduct.

The bill is tie-barred to Senate Bill 206 and House Bills 4240 and 4241, which would amend the Revised School Code to require the expulsion of a pupil who assaulted a school employee; require the adoption of a Statewide school safety information policy; and provide for the creation of strict discipline academies.

Proposed MCL 380.1311c - Legislative Analyst: S. Lowe

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed: 5-11-99 - Fiscal Analyst: K. Summers-Cotyfloor\sb183 - Analysis available @ http://www.michiganlegislature.org

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.