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2017 SESSION

17102713D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1535
Offered January 11, 2017
Prefiled December 27, 2016
A BILL to amend and reenact § 22.1-277 of the Code of Virginia, relating to public schools; student discipline.
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Patrons-- Bell, Richard P. and O'Bannon; Senator: McClellan
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Referred to Committee on Education
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Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 22.1-277 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 22.1-277. Suspensions and expulsions of pupils generally.

A. Pupils may be suspended or expelled from attendance at school for sufficient cause; however, in no cases may sufficient cause for suspensions include only instances of truancy:

1. Truancy alone shall not be considered sufficient cause for suspension or expulsion; and

2. Disorderly or disruptive behavior shall not be considered sufficient cause for long-term suspension or expulsion unless such behavior also involves intentional physical injury or credible threat of physical injury to another person.

B. Any student for whom the division superintendent of the school division in which such student is enrolled has received a report pursuant to § 16.1-305.1 of an adjudication of delinquency or a conviction for an offense listed in subsection G of § 16.1-260 may be suspended or expelled from school attendance pursuant to this article.

C. The authority provided in § 22.1-276.2 for teachers to remove students from their classes in certain instances of disruptive behavior shall not be interpreted to affect the operation of § 22.1-277.04, 22.1-277.05, or 22.1-277.06.