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1995 SESSION

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HB 2137 Parental responsibility for and involvement in students' education.

Introduced by: Alan A. Diamonstein | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles

SUMMARY:

Parental responsibility for and involvement in students' education and proceedings against certain parents. Clarifies the jurisdiction of juvenile and domestic relations courts in cases of parents who willfully and unreasonably fail to comply with certain requirements. This bill sets forth a new section which requires parents to acknowledge the school's student conduct policy and their responsibility to assist in disciplining their child and maintaining order. Parents may be required to meet with school officials if requested by the principal, and the parents of suspended students must accompany the student to meet with school officials unless there are special circumstances. Failure to meet with officials, or an expulsion or second suspension, may result in court action by the school board; the court may order the parents to pay certain civil penalties, compel the student or parents to participate in certain programs or treatments, or set conditions and limitations on the parents and students. The juvenile and domestic district court jurisdiction statute, as it is presently in effect and as it may become effective if the family court is implemented, is specifically amended to provide the court “exclusive original jurisdiction” in matters relating to the new parental responsibility and involvement section. All schools must have parental involvement activities.

If it finds that the parent has willfully and unreasonably failed to comply with the requirements of new § 22.1-279.3, the court may impose penalties, i.e., a $50 civil penalty for certain infractions and a $500 civil penalty for certain other infractions. The court is not authorized to use its contempt power to enforce any of its orders under these statutes. The civil penalties will be enforceable in the juvenile and domestic relations court, or its successor in interest, of the locality in which the student's school is located and paid into a special fund maintained by the local governing body to support programs or treatments designed to improve students' behavior. If the civil penalties are not paid, the attorney for the appropriate county, city or town shall collect the civil penalties.


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