HB544: Suspension and expulsion; prohibits instances of disorderly or disruptive behavior offenses.

HOUSE BILL NO. 544
Offered January 11, 2012
Prefiled January 10, 2012
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-277 of the Code of Virginia, relating to student discipline; suspensions and expulsions.
Patron-- Robinson

Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 22.1-277 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-277. Suspensions and expulsions of pupils generally.

A. Pupils may be suspended or expelled from attendance at school for sufficient cause; however, in no cases may sufficient cause for suspensions include only instancescase shall:

1. Instances of only truancy provide sufficient cause for a suspension;

2. Instances of only technology offenses, as defined by the Board of Education, provide sufficient cause for a long-term suspension or expulsion; or

3. Instances of only disorderly or disruptive behavior, as defined by the Board of Education, provide sufficient cause for a long-term suspension or expulsion.

B. Any student for whom the division superintendent of the school division in which such student is enrolled has received a report pursuant to § 16.1-305.1 of an adjudication of delinquency or a conviction for an offense listed in subsection G of § 16.1-260 may be suspended or expelled from school attendance pursuant to this article.

C. The authority provided in § 22.1-276.2 for teachers to remove students from their classes in certain instances of disruptive behavior shall not be interpreted to affect the operation of § 22.1-277.04, 22.1-277.05, or 22.1-277.06.