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Committee passes bill tightening rules on teacher removals from class; mandates conference and allows behavioral threat assessments
Summary
HB 1062, amended and passed by the committee, requires that when teachers remove a student from class for specified disruptive, violent or abusive conduct the principal or a designee hold a conference before the student returns and provides for behavioral threat-assessment consideration and exclusions for correctional/other facilities.
Representative Scott Richardson presented HB 1062 with an amendment that adds behavioral threat-assessment language and narrows some references to alternative learning environments. The bill addresses teacher removals from class, the conference requirement before a student's return, and the procedures schools must follow when a student is removed for disruptive or violent behavior.
"We've added an additional portion of the requirement, to discuss, or excuse me, to have a behavioral threat assessment consideration in this bill," Richardson said. The amendment also removed language that could be interpreted to encourage placement in alternative learning environments and excluded entities such as correctional facilities and Division of Youth Services programs from portions of the proposal.
Members asked about the required nature of the conference and whether "shall" or "may" language was appropriate; the sponsor and amendment proponent said the current wording is a technical cleanup to make the requirement mandatory for the listed categories of misconduct so a principal or designee convenes a conference before a student is returned to class.
The bill directs districts to consider behavioral-health supports and threat assessments when serious conduct is involved. Representative Barnett, Representative Gonzalez Worthy and others engaged on details about day-counts and whether removals would become alternative placements; Richardson's amendment removed the section governing funding and day thresholds for ALE placements to avoid creating incentives to move students to ALE.
The committee approved the bill as amended by voice vote.
