Pupil discipline: suspension: restorative justice practices.

(1) Existing law requires the State Department of Education to develop evidence-based best practices for restorative justice practice implementation on a school campus and to make these best practices available on the department's internet website on or before June 1, 2024, as specified. This bill would, commencing July 1, 2026, require school districts, county offices of education, and charter schools to adopt at least one of the best practices for restorative justice practice implementation developed by the department. By imposing new duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) Existing law prohibits a pupil from being suspended from school or recommended for expulsion unless the superintendent of the school district or principal of the school determines that the pupil has committed any of various specified acts. Existing law provides that suspension shall be imposed only when other means of correction, which may include, but are not limited to, participation in a restorative justice program, fail to bring about proper conduct, except that the suspension of a pupil for a first offense is authorized if the principal or superintendent of schools determines that the pupil violated one of a certain subset of those enumerated acts or that the pupil's presence causes a danger to persons. Existing law authorizes a school district to document the alternative means of correction used and to place that documentation in the pupil's record, as provided. This bill would provide that participation in a restorative justice program, as an alternative to suspension as a means of correction, may include participation in a restorative justice best practice, adopted as described in paragraph (1) above. The bill also would require, instead of authorize, a school district to document the alternative means of correction used and to place that documentation in the pupil's record. To the extent this provision imposes new duties on local educational agencies, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) This bill would make the implementation of its provisions contingent upon an appropriation by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another measure for the purposes of the bill's provisions. (4) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.