Bill Text: WV SCR95 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requesting Joint Committee on Government and Finance study state's school harassment laws
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 8-1)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2012-03-10 - Ordered to House [SCR95 Detail]
Download: West_Virginia-2012-SCR95-Introduced.html
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 95
(By Senators Plymale, Beach, Chafin, Edgell, Laird, Stollings, Tucker, Wills and Boley)
[Originating in the Committee on Education]
Requesting the Joint Committee on Government and Finance to authorize a study regarding whether the state's laws regulating harassment in schools provide the constitutionally required safeguards to student expression.
Whereas, The State of West Virginia has an interest in ensuring that all students are safe at school; and
Whereas, The laws governing student behavior in West Virginia must apply equally and fairly to all students; and
Whereas, The Supreme Court of the United States requires government to safeguard the First Amendment right of persons in schools to engage in expression; and
Whereas, Laws that regulate harassment sometimes have the effect of restricting, punishing, or discouraging student expression even when such expression does not cause a material and substantial disruption of the educational environment of the school; therefore be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance is hereby requested to authorize a study regarding whether the state's laws regulating harassment in schools provide the constitutionally required safeguards to student expression; and be it
Further resolved, That the Joint Committee on Government and Finance report to the regular session of the Legislature, 2013, on its findings, conclusions and recommendation, together with drafts of any legislation necessary to effectuate its recommendations; and be it
Further resolved, That the expenses necessary to conduct this study, to prepare a report and to draft necessary legislation be paid from legislative appropriations to the Joint Committee on Government and Finance.
