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Legislation

MSTA Action

Click on the PDF icon for a complete copy of the May 21, 2010, FINAL ACTION

Document(s) in pdf format. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat®.

  |   Budget dominates session but more cuts to come   |   Charters, open enrollment are non-factors   |   Bills passed this session   |   No changes to formula, summer school   |   Ed. departments to remain separate   |   School safety measure finally passes   |   Parents as Teachers changes due to cuts   |   Career Ladder survives tight budget   |

School safety measure finally passes

A plan to improve school safety and limit employee liability has been approved by the legislature and is awaiting the governor's signature.

The school safety proposals have appeared in numerous bills in the General Assembly for years, but the bills never passed. HB1543 (Wallace) became one of the most significant pieces of legislation during the legislative session. The bill started as a school-safety measure, but grew to include a wide range of topics.

HB1543 (Wallace) makes the following changes to school safety:

  • Expanding the reporting of violent acts to include all teachers at the student's school and other employees who need to know.

  • Specifying that a suspended student who is not allowed on school property without permission is also prohibited from attending school events occurring off school property.

  • Requiring a notice of reportable offenses to be attached to an offending student's record and transcript.

  • Allowing school districts to require a school uniform or restrict dress.

  • Exempting unqualified employees who refuse to administer medication or medical services from disciplinary action for their refusal.

  • Exempting qualified employees from civil liability for administering medication or medical services, such as CPR, in good faith and according to standard practices.

  • Requiring that if spanking is used it must be witnessed by an employee of the school district.

  • Specifying that use of reasonable force by school employees to protect persons or property is not considered child abuse.

  • Having districts change the definition of "bullying" to include cyberbullying or electronic communications.


The bill also requires contractors or subcontractors working on construction projects on public and charter schools to implement random drug and alcohol testing. St. Louis City schools will be allowed to use a hearing officer for employee termination hearings if they are under control of a Special Administrative Board.

During the session, the bill expanded to include changes to the Career Ladder and Parents as Teachers. See related articles for those stories.