Bill > HB1204

This bill establishes new requirements for public and nonpublic schools regarding student elopement, which is defined as a student leaving the school campus without permission from a responsible staff member. The bill defines key terms such as "wandering" (leaving a classroom or area without permission but not leaving the campus), and clarifies that schools must notify a student's parent or guardian on the same day an elopement occurs. Previously, the bill would have required notification within 24 hours, but this has been modified. The legislation removes previous provisions that exempted schools from notification for students with existing individualized education programs (IEPs) or behavior intervention plans. Instead, schools must now review and address wandering or elopement behavior with relevant stakeholders at least annually when updating a student's IEP or behavior intervention plan. Notably, the bill eliminates extensive reporting requirements that would have mandated detailed annual reports to county boards and the state department of education about elopement incidents, including demographic breakdowns and steps taken to reduce such incidents. The law will take effect on July 1, 2025, and applies to public schools, the Maryland School for the Blind, the Maryland School for the Deaf, and nonpublic schools, with the primary goal of improving communication and intervention strategies for students who leave school premises without authorization.