72-6132. Policies requiring expulsion of pupils for possession of weapons, adoption, filing; hearings; modification of requirement authorized; referral procedure; annual report; circumstances when policy not applicable. (a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of K.S.A. 72-6115, and amendments thereto, and subject to the other provisions of this section, each board of education in this state shall adopt a written policy requiring the expulsion from school for a period of not less than one year any pupil determined to be in possession of a weapon at school, on school property, or at a school supervised activity. The policy shall be filed with the state board of education in such manner as the state board shall require and at a time to be determined and specified by the state board.

(b) To the extent that the provisions contained in article 61 of chapter 72 of [the] Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, do not conflict with the requirements of this act, such provisions shall apply to and be incorporated in the policy required to be adopted under subsection (a).

(c) If a pupil required to be expelled pursuant to a policy adopted under subsection (a) is confined in the custody of the secretary for children and families, the commissioner of juvenile justice or the secretary of corrections as a result of the violation upon which the expulsion is to be based, the hearing required under the provisions of article 61 of chapter 72 of Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, shall be delayed until the pupil is released from custody.

(d) A hearing afforded a pupil required to be expelled pursuant to a policy adopted under subsection (a) shall be conducted by the chief administrative officer or other certificated employee of the school in which the pupil is enrolled, by any committee of certificated employees of the school in which the pupil is enrolled, or by a hearing officer appointed by the board of education of the school in which the pupil is enrolled.

(e) The chief administrative officer of the school in which a pupil required to be expelled pursuant to a policy adopted under subsection (a) is enrolled may modify the expulsion requirement in a manner which is consistent with the requirements of federal law. Nothing in this subsection shall be applied or construed in any manner so as to require the chief administrative officer of a school to modify the expulsion requirement of a policy adopted by a board of education pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a).

(f) The policy adopted by a board of education under subsection (a) shall contain a procedure for the referral of any pupil determined to be in possession of a weapon at school, on school property, or at a school supervised activity to the appropriate state and local law enforcement agencies and, if the pupil is a juvenile, to the secretary for children and families or the commissioner of juvenile justice.

(g) Each board of education shall prepare an annual report on a form prescribed and furnished by the state board of education that contains a description of the circumstances surrounding any expulsions imposed on pupils pursuant to a policy adopted under subsection (a), including the name of the school or schools concerned, the number of pupils expelled, and the type of weapons concerned. The report shall be submitted to the state board of education in such manner as the state board shall require and at a time to be determined and specified by the state board.

(h) The provisions of this section do not apply to the possession by pupils of weapons at school, on school property, or at a school supervised activity if the possession of weapons by pupils is connected with a weapons safety course of instruction or a weapons education course approved and authorized by the school or if the possession of weapons by pupils is specifically authorized in writing by the chief administrative officer of the school.

History: L. 1995, ch. 27, § 2; L. 1996, ch. 141, § 2; L. 1997, ch. 156, § 85; L. 2014, ch. 115, § 296; July 1.