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An Act Regarding School Discipline for Maine's Youngest Students
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §1001, sub-§8-A, ¶B, as enacted by PL 2011, c. 614, §3, is amended by amending subparagraph (2) to read:
 
B.
 
(2) The student has the right to an attorney or other representation. A student who is eligible for free or reduced-price meals under section 6602, subsection 1, paragraph A is entitled to an attorney or other representation, including, but not limited to, an advocate for the developmentally disabled, at state expense; and
Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §1001, sub-§9, as amended by PL 2017, c. 407, Pt. A, §57, is further amended to read:
 
9. Students expelled or suspended.   Following a proper investigation of a student's behavior and due process proceedings pursuant to subsection 8-A, if found necessary for the peace and usefulness of the school, a school board shall expel any student, except a student who is enrolled in grade 5 or below:
 
A. Who is deliberately disobedient or deliberately disorderly;
 
B. For infractions of violence;
 
C. Who possesses on school property a firearm as defined in Title 17-A, section 2, subsection 12-A or a dangerous weapon as defined in Title 17-A, section 2, subsection 9 without permission of a school official;
 
D. Who, with use of any other dangerous weapon as defined in Title 17-A, section 2, subsection 9, paragraph A, intentionally or knowingly causes injury or accompanies use of a weapon with a threat to cause injury; or
 
E. Who possesses, furnishes or trafficks in any scheduled drug as defined in Title 17-A, chapter 45.
 
A student may be readmitted on satisfactory evidence that the behavior that was the cause of the student being expelled will not likely recur. The school board may authorize the principal to suspend students up to a maximum of 10 days for infractions of school rules, except that a school board may not authorize a principal to suspend a student who is enrolled in grade 5 or below except as provided under subsection 9-A. In addition to other powers and duties under this subsection, the school board may develop a policy requiring a student who is in violation of school substance use or possession rules to participate in substance use disorder services as provided in section 6606. Nothing in this subsection or subsection 9-C prevents a school board from providing educational services in an alternative setting to a student who has been expelled.
Sec. 3. 20-A MRSA §1001, sub-§15, as amended by PL 2011, c. 659, §2, is further amended to read:
 
15. Adoption of student code of conduct.   With input from educators, administrators, parents, students and community members, they shall adopt a district-widedistrictwide student code of conduct consistent with the statewide standards for student behavior developed under section 254, subsection 11. Adoption of a districtwide student code of conduct is required in order to receive funding under chapter 606-B. Except as provided under subsection 9-A, a student code of conduct may not prescribe suspension, expulsion or the withholding of recess as a consequence of a violation of the student code of conduct by any student enrolled in grade 5 or below. The student code of conduct must:
 
A. Define unacceptable student behavior;
 
B. Establish standards of student responsibility for behavior;
 
C. Prescribe consequences for violation of the student code of conduct, including first-time violations, when appropriate;
 
D. Describe appropriate procedures for referring students in need of special services to those services;
 
E. Establish criteria to determine when further assessment of a current individual education plan is necessary, based on removal of the student from class;
 
F. Establish policies and procedures concerning the removal of disruptive or violent students or students threatening death or bodily harm to others from a classroom or a school bus, as well as student disciplinary and placement decisions, when appropriate;
 
G. Establish guidelines and criteria concerning the appropriate circumstances when the superintendent or the superintendent's designee may provide information to the local police or other appropriate law enforcement authorities regarding an offense that involves violence committed by any person on school grounds or other school property; and
 
H. Establish policies and procedures to address bullying, harassment and sexual harassment as set forth in section 6554.
 
The school board is responsible for ensuring that school officials inform students, parents and community members of the student code of conduct.
 
SUMMARY
This bill provides that a student code of conduct may not prescribe suspension, expulsion or the withholding of recess as a consequence of a violation of the student code of conduct by any student enrolled in grade 5 or below except as provided under the federal Gun-Free Schools Act. The bill also provides that any student enrolled in grade 6 or above who is eligible for free or reduced-price school meals is entitled to representation at state expense during an expulsion proceeding.