By: Perry, Sparks S.B. No. 1873

(In the Senate - Filed March 4, 2025; March 17, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Education K-16; April 7, 2025, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 10, Nays 0; April 7, 2025, sent to printer.) Click here to see the committee vote

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 1873 By: Bettencourt

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to students enrolled in public schools subject to in-school or out-of-school suspension.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 37.005, Education Code, is amended by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows:

(a) The principal or other appropriate administrator may suspend a student who engages in conduct identified in the student code of conduct adopted under Section 37.001 as conduct for which a student may be subject to an in-school or out-of-school suspension [suspended].

(b) An out-of-school [A] suspension under this section may not exceed three school days. An in-school suspension under this section is not subject to any time limit.

(b-1) A school's placement review committee shall review the in-school suspension of a student under this section at least once every fifteen school days after the date the suspension begins to evaluate the educational progress of the student and to determine if continued in-school suspension is appropriate. If the placement review committee determines that continued in-school suspension is appropriate, the committee shall document the determination.

SECTION 2. This Act applies beginning with the 2025-2026 school year.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.

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