HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 1439

BYRepresentatives Todd, Walker, G. Fisher, Prentice, Wood, S. Wilson, Gallagher, Walk, Jones, Betrozoff, R. Meyers, Anderson, Brekke, Crane, Brough, Cole, Rayburn, Pruitt, Kremen, Chandler, Brumsickle, Patrick, Day, Jesernig, Winsley, Bowman, Horn, Youngsman, Ferguson, Wineberry, P. King, Scott, R. King, Dorn, Rasmussen and Phillips

Allowing suspension of student with deadly weapon.

House Committe on Education

Majority Report:  Do pass with amendments.  (17)

      Signed by Representatives Peery, Chair; G. Fisher, Vice Chair; Betrozoff, Ranking Republican Member; Brumsickle, Cole, Dorn, Fuhrman, Holland, Horn, Jones, Phillips, Rasmussen, Rayburn, Schoon, Valle, Walker and K. Wilson.

House Staff:Susan Patrick (786-7111)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION MARCH 1, 1989

BACKGROUND:

Currently districts are required to have a written disciplinary policy to preserve a beneficial learning environment and to maintain good order and discipline.  A student who disrupts the educational process in violation of the building disciplinary policy may be excluded by a teacher from a classroom for the balance of the period or day or until the principal and teacher have conferred, which ever occurs first.  Except in emergency circumstances, the teacher shall have first attempted one or more alternative forms of corrective action.

SUMMARY:

BILL AS AMENDED:  School boards have the authority to enact a policy immediately suspending any student who brings a deadly weapon onto school property.  For purposes of this section, a deadly weapon is an implement or instrument which has the capacity to inflict death and from the manner in which it is used, is likely to produce or may easily and readily produce death.  The following instruments are deadly weapons: blackjack, sling shot, billy club, sand club, sandbag, metal knuckles, dirk, dagger, pistol, revolver or any other firearm, any knife having a blade longer than three inches, razor with an unguarded blade, metal pipe or bar used as a club, any explosive, and any weapon containing poisonous or injurious gas.  Dangerous weapons include all weapons outlined in RCW 9.41.250 and devices commonly called nun-chu-ka sticks, throwing stars and air guns.

AMENDED BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Possession of dangerous weapons as defined in RCW 9.41.250 and devices commonly called nun-chu-ka sticks, throwing stars and air guns on school grounds is added as a possible reason for immediate suspension.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Representative Mike Todd; Walter Ball, Association of Washington School Principals; and John Kvamme, Tacoma School District.

House Committee - Testified Against:      None Presented.

House Committee - Testimony For:    It is important to provide a clear statement that carrying deadly weapons to school is not acceptable.  We see more of this behavior as weapons have been used to intimidate students resulting in other students feeling that they must carry a weapon for their own safety.  Legislation would also make clear that this is an emergency situation and can be dealt with by immediate suspension of the student.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None Presented.