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Committee reports bill changing disciplinary penalties for young students found with drugs, adds local discretion for first offenses
Summary
HB 384, which would adjust mandatory suspensions for certain students found with controlled substances and return discretion to local districts for first offenses, was reported with amendments after sponsor and committee negotiated language to avoid conflict with a recent change in state law.
Representative Bridal presented House Bill 384, a proposal to revise disciplinary penalties for public-school students found in possession of controlled substances. The author said current law mandates a suspension of four quarters for students in specified grade ranges found with certain substances; the amendment adopted in committee gives school districts discretion to determine consequences for first offenses while making a second offense mandatory.
Committee discussion referenced prior session changes and the difficulty created by wide availability of THC products; the adopted amendment moves discretion to local systems for first occurrences and keeps a mandatory penalty for repeat conduct.
Support came from criminal-defense groups and teachers’ unions; the Louisiana Association of School Boards and some parish school systems filed white cards to provide information. Representative Young moved to report the bill with amendments and the committee adopted the amendment and reported HB 384 favorably.
The bill’s amendment intends to avoid immediate conflict with a recent statutory change and to give districts flexibility to respond to age and context on a first offense while preserving stronger consequences for repeated violations.
