California Legislature Considers Bills Prohibiting Expulsions, Suspensions of Drunk or High K-12 Students

The California legislature may prevent K-12 schools from suspending or expelling students who are drunk or high, or in possession of illicit drugs or alcohol.

The proposed ban is outlined in Assembly Bill 599, from Democratic Assemblymember Chris Ward. The Education Committee approved AB 599 last week unanimously; it now heads to the Appropriations Committee. 

The bill argued that students shouldn’t be expelled or suspended for being drunk or high because “high feelings of school connectedness can decrease drug use” — indicating that students should remain in that school environment, rather than being forced out, in order to prevent further drug or alcohol use.