FISCAL NOTE

Senate Bill 79 as introduced establishes a uniform disciplinary hearing process, conducted by a local board of education or its neutral designee, for students facing long-term suspension or expulsion. This would increase the obligations of local boards of education to provide: (1) written notice of disciplinary hearings; (2) substantial evidence of how a student violated the code of student conduct, or state law, at disciplinary hearings; and (3) electronic or written records of any hearing to each party upon request. This bill would also increase the administrative obligations of the State Board of Education by an undetermined amount to adopt rules related to establishing the uniform disciplinary hearing procedures.

As amended and reported by the Committee on Education Policy, the bill provides that the neutral designee in the hearing process shall be agreed to by both parties.