THREAT ASSESSMENTS
If a student threatens mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity, then this bill requires the director of schools or the head of the public charter school, as applicable, to require the student to submit to a threat assessment to determine whether the threat of mass violence made by the student was a valid threat. The student may be suspended from attendance at the school and from school-sponsored activities until the threat assessment is complete. If the director of schools or the head of the public charter school determines, based on the results of the threat assessment, that the threat of mass violence made by the student was not a valid threat, then the school must not expel the student from school for a zero tolerance offense. However, this bill provides that the student may be suspended in accordance with law governing student suspension.
ZERO TOLERANCE OFFENSES
Present law provides that a student has committed a zero tolerance offense if the student threatens mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity. This bill adds that while it is still a zero tolerance offense for a student to threaten mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity, such an offense is subject to the requirements of this bill.
Present law requires that each local board of education and charter school governing body must adopt a discipline policy to apply to the students in each school operated by the LEA or charter school governing body. Further, each local discipline policy must designate certain offenses as zero tolerance offenses. This bill adds that, subject to other requirements of this bill, each local board must indicate that threats of mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity are zero tolerance offenses.
SCHOOL OFFICIALS TO REPORT STUDENT OFFENSES
Present law requires teachers and principals who have either observed or have knowledge of an assault, battery, or vandalism endangering life, health, or safety committed by a student on school property to report such activity or reports of such activity to the principal, the director of schools, or the police. This bill replaces this provision, requiring, instead, that teachers, principals, and other school personnel must observe the following protocols:
(1) A teacher who observes or otherwise has knowledge of an assault and battery or an act of vandalism endangering life, health, or safety committed by a student on school property must immediately report such action to the principal of the teacher's school;
(2) A principal who has direct knowledge of an assault and battery or an act of vandalism endangering life, health, or safety committed by a student on school property, or who receives a report of such action, must immediately report such action to the director of schools and the municipal or metropolitan police department or sheriff's department having jurisdiction;
(3) A director of schools or the head of a public charter school who has knowledge of a valid threat of mass violence on school property or at a school-related activity made by a student must immediately report such action to the municipal or metropolitan police department or sheriff's department having jurisdiction. A threat of mass violence is valid for purposes of this bill if such a determination is made based on the results of the threat assessment; and
(4) A fight not involving the use of a weapon, or a fight that does not result in serious personal injury to one or more of the parties involved, must only be reported to the school administrator.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 49-6-3401(g), 49-6-3401, 49-6-3401(g)(2), 49-6-4002(e), 49-6-4002, 49-6-4301