Our View of the Legislature: Policing Student Conduct

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There are several bills this session that would expand the role of law enforcement in policing student misbehavior and further criminalize student conduct. Because students with disabilities are disproportionately impacted by harsh disciplinary practices in schools and by the criminalization of student misbehavior, the disAbility Law Center of Virginia is monitoring these bills closely.  Some of these bills include:

HB 4 (Wyatt), HB 59 (McGuire), HB 308 (Ransone), SB 2 (Cosgrove), SB 36 (Norment), & SB 613 (Stanley): Would expand the incidents of student misbehavior that must be reported by school principals to law enforcement, to include certain misdemeanor offenses. Under current law, school principals are only required to report an act when it may constitute a felony offense.

HB 985 (Anderson/Chase): Would expand the incidents of student misbehavior that must be reported by school principals to law enforcement, to include “violent offenses” that do not constitute felony offenses. Under current law, school principals are only required to report an act when it may constitute a felony offense.

HB 37 (Anderson): Would require school boards to enter into a memoranda of understanding (MOUs) with their local law enforcement agency and employ at least one School Resource Officer (SRO) for each public middle and high school, and at least one for each five elementary schools. Currently, school boards may, but are not required to enter into such an MOU and hire SROs.

HB 873 (Greenhalgh), SB 415 (DeSteph): Would require school boards to enter into a memoranda of understanding (MOU) with their local law enforcement agency and to employ at least one School Resource Officer (SRO) in every elementary and secondary school in the school division. Currently, school boards may, but are not required to enter into such an MOU and hire SROs.

HB 89 (Walker): Would remove current exception to disorderly conduct statute that excludes disruptive student behavior from the definition of the criminal offense of “disorderly conduct.”

The disAbility Law Center of Virginia’s mission is to advance independence, choice and self-determination; protect legal, human and civil rights; and eliminate abuse, neglect and discrimination of people with disabilities through zealous and uncompromising legal advocacy and representation.   We are available to educate policy makers about the potential impact of legislative proposals and budgetary considerations.  Please let us know of any legislative proposals or budget issues that you think we should be following.  Contact us at info@dlcv.org or by calling 1-800-552-3962 or 804-225-2042.