Student discipline; long-term suspension. (HB1600)

Introduced By

Del. Jeff Bourne (D-Richmond) with support from 41 copatrons, whose average partisan position is:

Those copatrons are Del. Dawn Adams (D-Richmond), Del. Hala Ayala (D-Woodbridge), Del. Dickie Bell (R-Staunton), Del. Jennifer Carroll Foy (D-Woodbridge), Del. Lee Carter (D-Manassas), Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax Station), Del. Kelly Fowler (D-Virginia Beach), Del. Wendy Gooditis (D-Clarke), Del. Elizabeth Guzman (D-Dale City), Del. Cliff Hayes (D-Chesapeake), Del. Steve Heretick (D-Portsmouth), Del. Charniele Herring (D-Alexandria), Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington), Del. Chris Hurst (D-Blacksburg), Del. Matthew James (D-Portsmouth), Del. Jay Jones (D-Norfolk), Del. Mark Keam (D-Vienna), Del. Paul Krizek (D-Alexandria), Del. Mark Levine (D-Alexandria), Del. Joe Lindsey (D-Norfolk), Del. Alfonso Lopez (D-Arlington), Del. Delores McQuinn (D-Richmond), Del. Mike Mullin (D-Newport News), Del. Chris Peace (R-Mechanicsville), Del. Ken Plum (D-Reston), Del. Cia Price (D-Newport News), Del. Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke), Del. David Reid (D-Loudoun), Del. Debra Rodman (D-Henrico), Del. Mark Sickles (D-Alexandria), Del. Marcus Simon (D-Falls Church), Del. Rip Sullivan (D-Arlington), Del. Luke Torian (D-Woodbridge), Del. Kathy Tran (D-Springfield), Del. Roslyn Tyler (D-Jarratt), Del. Vivian Watts (D-Annandale), Sen. Lashrecse D. Aird (D-Petersburg), Sen. Lamont Bagby (D-Richmond), Sen. John Bell (D-Chantilly), Sen. Danica Roem (D-Manassas), Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-Henrico)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Student discipline; long-term suspension. Reduces the maximum length of a long-term suspension from 364 calendar days to 45 school days. The bill permits a long-term suspension to extend beyond a 45-school-day period, not to exceed 364 calendar days, if (i) the offense involves weapons, drugs, or serious bodily injury or (ii) the school board or division superintendent or his designee finds that aggravating circumstances exist, as defined by the Department of Education. The bill requires the Department of Education's definition of aggravating circumstances to include consideration of a student's disciplinary history. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Passed

History

DateAction
01/19/2018Committee
01/19/2018Presented and ordered printed 18105597D
01/19/2018Referred to Committee on Education
01/26/2018Assigned Education sub: Subcommittee #1
01/26/2018Impact statement from DPB (HB1600)
01/29/2018Subcommittee recommends reporting with substitute (8-Y 0-N)
01/31/2018Reported from Education with substitute (20-Y 2-N) (see vote tally)
01/31/2018Committee substitute printed 18106154D-H1
02/02/2018Read first time
02/05/2018Impact statement from DPB (HB1600H1)
02/05/2018Read second time
02/05/2018Committee substitute agreed to 18106154D-H1
02/05/2018Engrossed by House - committee substitute HB1600H1
02/06/2018Read third time and passed House (83-Y 15-N)
02/06/2018VOTE: PASSAGE (83-Y 15-N) (see vote tally)
02/06/2018Reconsideration of passage agreed to by House
02/06/2018Passed House (84-Y 15-N)
02/06/2018VOTE: PASSAGE #2 (84-Y 15-N) (see vote tally)
02/07/2018Constitutional reading dispensed
02/07/2018Referred to Committee on Education and Health
02/14/2018Assigned Education sub: Public Education
02/22/2018Reported from Education and Health with substitute (13-Y 1-N) (see vote tally)
02/22/2018Committee substitute printed 18107271D-S1
02/23/2018Constitutional reading dispensed (38-Y 0-N) (see vote tally)
02/23/2018Impact statement from DPB (HB1600S1)
02/26/2018Read third time
02/26/2018Reading of substitute waived
02/26/2018Committee substitute agreed to 18107271D-S1
02/26/2018Engrossed by Senate - committee substitute HB1600S1
02/26/2018Passed Senate with substitute (34-Y 6-N) (see vote tally)
02/28/2018Placed on Calendar
02/28/2018Senate substitute agreed to by House 18107271D-S1 (85-Y 13-N)
02/28/2018VOTE: ADOPTION (85-Y 13-N) (see vote tally)
03/02/2018Enrolled
03/02/2018Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB1600ER)
03/02/2018Impact statement from DPB (HB1600ER)
03/02/2018Signed by Speaker
03/05/2018Signed by President
03/07/2018Enrolled Bill communicated to Governor on March 7, 2018
03/07/2018G Governor's Action Deadline Midnight, April 9, 2018
03/23/2018G Approved by Governor-Chapter 491 (effective 7/1/18)
03/23/2018G Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0491)

Comments

ACLU-VA Juvenile Justice, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

The ACLU of VA strongly supports this bill, and other measures, that seeks to address the overwhelming problem VA has when it comes to school discipline. VA schools leads the nation in suspensions and referrals to law enforcement. Statistically, these long-term suspensions disproportionately affect minority students and students with disabilities. This bill is a start in the right direction by limiting out of school suspension for young students. The bill still allows for exceptions in extreme instances. Young students in trouble need more help, not suspensions.