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Panel advances bill to transfer school disciplinary records between public schools, with juvenile-record access removed
Summary
The committee voted to report HB 344 with amendments that keep student disciplinary records transferable among public and charter schools but remove provisions that would have given school personnel access to juvenile court records.
Representative Berrault presented House Bill 344 to the House Education Committee on Wednesday; after floor discussion the author offered amendments that narrowed the bill to the transfer of school disciplinary records and removed the provisions on access to juvenile court records.
With the adopted amendments (amendment set 2019 and 2022), HB 344 would require a student’s school disciplinary record to follow the student’s academic record when transferring between public school systems, and would apply the same rules to charter schools.
Sponsor testimony emphasized that districts need disciplinary records to place students appropriately and identify supports. Representative Berrault told the committee the goal is to make disciplinary records available when a student moves so receiving schools can respond appropriately; she said the bill is not intended to ‘‘ostracize a child’’ but to help ensure safety and proper services.
Several members raised concerns about how transferred records might be used to place students in alternative settings or stigmatize children. Representative Brass said he understood the bill as not changing how records are used but warned that local practices differ and that policies should avoid creating long-term labeling of students. Representative Edmonson and others also said placement and discipline are often governed by local district policy.
The committee heard support from education groups and teachers’ unions and heard opposition concerns from a former East Baton Rouge Parish school board president who warned the measure could create lasting educational bias if districts misuse records. Michael Falk, executive director of the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents, told the committee that superintendents view transferred records as a prompt to assess supports and that students who have completed assigned consequences should start with a fresh slate.
Representative Carlson moved to report HB 344 with amendments; with no objections the committee reported the bill with the adopted amendments.
