SUMMARY:  LC 49 0568

By July 1, 2022, local boards would have to adopt a policy based on State Board minimum standards and model student codes of conduct that address appropriate methods for redirecting students whose behavior is dangerous or disruptive.  Corporal punishment would be prohibited. 

It defines corporal punishment as the deliberate use of physical contact or infliction of pain by any school personnel for the purpose of punishing or disciplining a student.  It does not include "the use of brief, limited, age-appropriate, nonpunitive, and noninjurious physical contact with a student for the purpose of redirecting to promote student safety, providing physical guidance or prompting when teaching a skill, providing guidance to a location, or providing comfort.

It exempts school personnel from being held accountable or liable in any criminal or civil action based on the good faith use of reasonable and necessary physical contact with a student for the purpose of protecting or attempting to protect himself, herself, or another from an actual or imminent threat to his or her health- or safety or the health or safety of another. 

 See also HB 892 on the use of corporal punishment.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2022