The bill amends the Code of Alabama 1975 to strengthen the legal framework surrounding terrorist threats and enhance school discipline policies. It introduces a new definition of a "credible threat," which is a knowing and willful statement or conduct that instills fear for safety. The penalties for making terrorist threats are revised, with first-degree threats classified as a Class B felony and second-degree threats as a Class A misdemeanor, escalating to a Class D felony under certain conditions. Public school principals are mandated to notify law enforcement immediately if a student is suspected of making such threats, and students charged with these offenses will face a minimum one-year suspension. The bill also expands the definition of protected property to include hospitals and nursing homes and revises the criteria for determining credible threats by removing the requirement for an objective evaluation.

Additionally, the bill modifies the financial responsibility of parents or guardians for students' actions, replacing "minor child" with "student" and allowing schools to recover damages for willful destruction of property. It emphasizes adherence to the rights established under federal laws, outlines conditions for readmission for those found guilty of violations, and mandates the distribution of a discipline plan to students and guardians. The bill also introduces a restitution requirement for individuals convicted of making terrorist threats, capping the total restitution amount at $10,000. The local board of education is tasked with adopting a code of student conduct and reviewing it annually for compliance. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13A-10-240, 13A-10-241, 13A-10-242, 16-1-24
Engrossed: 13A-10-240, 13A-10-241, 13A-10-242, 16-1-24
Enrolled: 13A-10-240, 13A-10-241, 13A-10-242, 16-1-24