HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2096        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 580

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Todd M. Smola

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act to promote healthy culture and climate within schools.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Todd M. Smola

1st Hampden

1/18/2023

Steven S. Howitt

4th Bristol

2/27/2023

James K. Hawkins

2nd Bristol

2/27/2023


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2096        FILED ON: 1/19/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 580

By Representative Smola of Warren, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 580) of Todd M. Smola, Steven S. Howitt and James K. Hawkins that school administrators consider alternatives to suspension or expulsion of certain students.  Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

_______________

 

An Act to promote healthy culture and climate within schools.

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1. Section 37H3/4 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking subsection (b) and inserting in place thereof the following:-

(b) Any principal, headmaster, superintendent or person acting as a decision-maker at a student meeting or hearing, when deciding the consequences for the student, shall consider ways to re-engage the student in the learning process; and shall not suspend or expel a student until alternative remedies have been employed and their use and results documented, following and in direct response to a specific incident or incidents, unless specific reasons are documented as to why such alternative remedies are unsuitable or counter-productive, except, however, in cases where the student’s continued presence in school would pose a specific, documentable concern about the infliction of serious bodily injury or other serious harm upon another person while in school or has caused a significant disruption to the learning environment for other students. Alternative remedies may include, but shall not be limited to: (i) mediation; (ii) conflict resolution; (iii) restorative justice; and (iv) collaborative problem solving. The principal, headmaster, superintendent or person acting as a decision-maker shall also implement school- or district-wide models to re-engage students in the learning process  which shall include but not be limited to: (i) positive behavioral interventions and supports models and (ii) trauma sensitive learning models; provided, however, that school- or district-wide models shall not be considered a direct response to a specific incident.