Members of the Senate Education committee voted unanimously to pass a bill that would revise the suspension requirements for students participating in extracurricular activities that are convicted of a drug related offense.

 

“We’re talking about youth that have made a mistake,” Sen. Tim Rave, the bill’s sponsor, said. “This is about sending a message to young people who play in sports and activities, that if you choose to (use or possess) drugs you won’t be able to participate (in an activity) for a while.”

 

Senate Bill 113 would impose a thirty calendar day suspension and would make the student ineligible for two games/activities upon completion of the suspension for a first offense. Offending students must complete an assessment with a certified chemical dependency counselor as part of the suspension guidelines.

 

A second offense would result in a sixty calendar day suspension and would make the student ineligible for six games/activities upon completion of the suspension. Offending students must complete an intensive prevention or treatment program as part of the suspension guidelines.

 

A third offense would result in permanent ineligibility in extracurricular activities for the offending student. Current law mandates students be permanently ineligible  following a second offense.

 

Students must complete the entire activity season in order for the punishment to remain valid and suspensions would carry over from each activity season if the season concluded during the time of suspension.

 

The bill does allow school districts to increase the penalties, if they so choose.

 

ASBSD supports the bill.

 

“We (ASBSD) look at it as being an incentive (to get) treatment,” ASBSD Director of Policy and Legal Services Gerry Kaufman said in support of the bill. “It’s appropriate to give students an additional chance.”

 

SB 113 now moves to the Senate floor.

 

For updates on the bill, read the ASBSD Blog or visit our Bill Tracker page.