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Committee adopts amendments and reports Newell’s school safety bill after hours of testimony
Summary
Representative Newell’s HB 283, addressing assault and battery of students and school employees and related disciplinary procedures, was amended and reported favorably after adoption of amendment set 34‑21 and extensive public comment from teacher advocates and a victim witness. Committee members committed to further work ahead of floor debate.
A legislative committee voted to report House Bill 283 favorably after adopting a set of amendments and hearing multiple witnesses about teacher safety and student discipline.
Representative Newell offered amendment set 34‑21, described during the hearing as technical edits plus three substantive adjustments: (1) technical corrections; (2) a requirement to document an altercation if the incident occurs off campus; and (3) alignment of discipline provisions for students with exceptionalities to state statute and the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The committee adopted the amendments on a motion by Senator Bartholomew.
Caroline Romer, executive director of Louisiana Charter Schools in Action, told the committee she supported teacher safety but said her organization and partners — including the Louisiana Federation of Teachers and ARC — had not been able to have all of their proposed amendments considered. "We have not had the opportunity to sit directly with Representative Newell to understand what her concerns may be with those amendments," Romer said, and urged that adopted language not weaken teacher protections.
Longtime educator and licensed professional counselor Rose Terrell described being assaulted and urged the legislature to consider supports for teachers recovering from severe injuries, including longer-term advocacy and clearer post‑injury assistance. "I was assaulted six and a half years ago," Terrell testified, recounting difficulties navigating workers’ compensation and medical care while attempting to return to work.
Department of Education staff member Ashley Townsend said current law allows districts to arrange alternative placements or settings if a student is expelled, and that the bill did not change the statutory requirement to provide a school placement when possible.
Why it matters: HB 283 touches on student discipline, employee sick‑leave and record provisions and aims to balance consequences for serious offenses with protections for students’ futures. Committee members said there remained technical and policy issues to resolve before floor action, and sponsors committed to working with senators and stakeholders between committee and the floor.
What the committee did: The committee adopted amendments (set 34‑21), recorded support and opposition in the hearing record, and reported HB 283 favorably as amended. Representative Newell and senators said they will continue consultations and that agreed fixes would carry through conference if necessary.
Sources: Attorney Roberts read HB 283; Representative Newell presented the measure and amendment set; Caroline Romer (Louisiana Charter Schools in Action) and Rose Terrell testified in the public comment portion; Ashley Townsend (Department of Education) answered procedural questions about placements for expelled students.
Next steps: Bill moves to the next stage of floor consideration; sponsors indicated intentions to refine wording and confirm implementation language before final votes.
