Vacationland Times

State Representative Gary Click's legislation aimed at improving school safety has been signed into law. The new law, House Bill 206, was enacted on Wednesday and provides more flexibility for district officials when dealing with students who bring weapons to school or make threats against others.

The bill allows school districts to set conditions that dangerous students must meet before being reinstated after expulsion. It also mandates a free psychological evaluation and continuing education for the expelled student during this period, which were not required under previous laws.

"Parents are entrusting schools to protect their children while they are away from the home," said Click. "This legislation will help keep students safe by empowering school administrators to address situations where a student poses an imminent and severe threat to the safety of students, while also developing clear guardrails and conditions for the reinstatement of an expelled student."

The legislation defines "imminent and severe endangerment" as four specific threats: bringing a firearm or knife capable of causing serious injury to school premises; committing a criminal act resulting in serious harm at school-related locations; making bomb threats; or articulating threats through various means that would lead one to conclude the student is a serious threat.

Superintendents must create conditions for reinstatement, including an assessment by a psychiatrist or licensed psychologist agreed upon by both parties. At the end of the expulsion period, if conditions are not met, superintendents can extend expulsions by up to 90 days before another reassessment.

Additionally, multidisciplinary expulsion teams will be established by local school boards' policy to assist in reinstatement decisions. House Bill 206 is set to take effect in 90 days.