FINAL BILL REPORT
SHB 1064
Synopsis as Enacted
C 68 L 93
Brief Description: Requiring the adoption of a policy prohibiting corporal punishment in schools.
By House Committee on Education (originally sponsored by Representatives G. Cole, Van Luven, G. Fisher, Cothern, Dorn, Holm, Leonard, Jones, Rust, R. Fisher, Jacobsen, King, Dellwo, Scott, Morris, Wang, Thibaudeau, Romero, Valle, Pruitt, Appelwick, Basich, J. Kohl, Anderson, Ogden, H. Myers, Wineberry, Riley, Brown, Long, Orr, Shin, Horn, Forner, Eide, Wolfe, Johanson, Kessler and Veloria).
House Committee on Education
Senate Committee on Education
Background: A school district is authorized by law to use corporal punishment to discipline children, if the punishment is imposed outside the view of other students, by an authorized employee while witnessed by another employee. No cruel or unusual form of corporal punishment, and only reasonable and moderate force, may be used. In addition, no form of corporal punishment may be inflicted upon a student's head.
Upon request, the school district must provide the student's parents or guardian with a written explanation of the reason or reasons for the corporal punishment, and the name of the witness.
A 1992 attorney general opinion concluded the State Board of Education currently lacks the authority to ban corporal punishment.
According to the national PTA, 22 states prohibit the use of corporal punishment in disciplining students. Proposed legislation to prohibit the use of corporal punishment in Washington schools has been introduced several times in past years.
Summary: Corporal punishment in the common schools is prohibited.
By February 1, 1994, the State Board of Education, in consultation with the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, must adopt a policy prohibiting the use of corporal punishment in common schools. The policy is to take effect in all school districts September 1, 1994.
Votes on Final Passage:
House 80 15
Senate 31 16
Effective: July 25, 1993