House Bill No. [insert number] proposes changes to the disciplinary penalties for public school students in grades six through twelve who are found in possession of marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol, or any chemical derivatives thereof on school property without a valid medical order. The bill enacts a new subsection, R.S. 17:416(O), which outlines specific penalties for the first three occurrences of such possession. On the first occurrence, the student is required to complete ten hours of substance abuse education approved by the school board. For the second occurrence, the student may face a suspension of up to one half of a semester, and for the third occurrence, the suspension may extend to up to one full semester.

This proposed law modifies the existing disciplinary framework, which mandates a minimum expulsion period of four complete school semesters for students found guilty of possessing illegal narcotics or controlled substances. The new provisions specifically apply only to the possession of marijuana and its derivatives, and notably, they do not apply to any subsequent occurrences beyond the third. This bill aims to provide a more rehabilitative approach to discipline for students rather than a strictly punitive one.