Bill > H4646

This bill, the Requiring Accountability for Inequities in Suspension and Expulsion (RAISE) Act, aims to address inequities in student discipline by modifying the conditions under which a principal or headmaster can suspend or expel a student. The key provisions include: (1) clarifying the definition of "willfully assaults" to require intent and means to harm; (2) raising the threshold for suspension or expulsion to pose a "specific, documentable concern about the infliction of serious bodily injury"; (3) requiring written notification of charges and the right to a hearing before suspension or expulsion; and (4) mandating the use of alternative remedies, such as mediation and restorative justice, before suspension or expulsion, except in cases where the student's presence poses a specific safety concern. The bill also requires the Department of Education to promulgate rules and regulations addressing these new requirements.

Budget and Finance

Committee on Education (J)

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H4646