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An Act To Prohibit Corporal Punishment in Schools
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  20-A MRSA §1, sub-§6-B  is enacted to read:
 
6-B.  Corporal punishment.     "Corporal punishment" means any form of discipline or punishment involving offensive physical contact with or inflicting physical pain or discomfort on a student. "Corporal punishment" does not include the use of physical restraint to protect the student or others from immediate harm.
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §4009, sub-§2, as enacted by PL 1981, c. 693, §§5 and 8, is amended to read:
 
2. Exceptions.   Subsection 1 shalldoes not apply to the intentional or reckless use of force that creates a substantial risk of death, serious bodily injury or extraordinary pain or to the rendering of corporal punishment.
Sec. 3.  20-A MRSA §4013  is enacted to read:
§ 4013. Corporal punishment prohibited
The imposition of corporal punishment is prohibited in an elementary or secondary school or any public or private preschool program that provides instruction to children who are 4 years of age.
 
SUMMARY
This bill prohibits the imposition of corporal punishment in elementary and secondary schools and preschool programs. "Corporal punishment" means any form of discipline or punishment involving offensive physical contact with or inflicting physical pain or discomfort on a student. "Corporal punishment" does not include the use of physical restraint to protect the student or others from immediate harm.