HB 1841 - DIGEST

(SUBSTITUTED FOR - SEE 2ND SUB)

     Declares that a person commits the offense of criminal gang activity if the person intentionally or knowingly actively participates in a criminal gang and the person attends or is registered in a public school, attended or was registered in a public school within the previous two years, or is of compulsory school attendance age.  Criminal gang activity is a class C felony.

     Declares that a person commits the offense of criminal gang intimidation if the person threatens another person because the other person refuses to join or has attempted to withdraw from a criminal gang, if the person who threatens the victim attends or is registered in a public school, attended or was registered in a public school within the previous two years, or is of compulsory attendance age.  Criminal gang intimidation is a class C felony.

     Provides that, whenever a minor enrolled in any primary or secondary school is charged with any of the following offenses, the juvenile court administrator must notify the parents or legal guardian of the student and the principal of the student's school of the charge and disposition of the case:  (1) A violent offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030;

     (2) a sex offense as defined in RCW 9.94A.030;

     (3) inhaling toxic fumes under chapter 9.47A RCW;

     (4) a controlled substances violation under chapter 69.50 RCW;

     (5) a liquor violation under RCW 66.44.270; or

     (6) an offense of criminal gang activity.

     Directs school district boards of directors to adopt policies that restore discipline to the classroom.  Such policies must provide for at least the following:  Allowing each teacher to take disciplinary action to correct a student who disrupts normal classroom activities, abuses or insults a teacher as prohibited by RCW 28A.635.010, willfully disobeys a teacher, uses abusive or foul language directed at a teacher or another student, violates school rules, or who interferes with an orderly education process.

     Designates the violations for which a teacher may suspend a student from the teacher's classroom.

     Provides that school district boards of directors may adopt policies that limit the possession of:  (1) Paging telecommunication devices by students that emit audible signals, vibrate, display a message, or otherwise summons or delivers a communication to the possessor; and

     (2) portable or cellular telephones.

     Provides that the governing board of any school district may adopt a reasonable dress and appearance code that requires students to wear a schoolwide uniform or prohibits its students from wearing gang-related apparel.