2023 -- H 5671 SUBSTITUTE A

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LC001985/SUB A

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS

     Introduced By: Representatives Baginski, and Solomon

     Date Introduced: February 17, 2023

     Referred To: House Education

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 16-2-32 of the General Laws in Chapter 16-2 entitled "School

Committees and Superintendents [See Title 16 Chapter 97 — The Rhode Island Board of Education

Act]" is hereby amended to read as follows:

     16-2-32. Policy manual for school committee.

     (a) All school committees in the state will have a policy manual. The policy manual will

have all school committee policies in writing, properly indexed, and kept up to date. The policy

manuals will be a source used to govern each school system. At least one policy manual will be

available to the faculty and staff in each school library. At least one policy manual will be available

for public reference at each administrative building and public library. Regularly updated policy

manuals shall be made available to the public on the website of each school district. Provided, any

school or school district comprehensive school safety plan regarding crisis intervention, emergency

response, and management, including those adopted by a school committee pursuant to the

provisions of § 16-21-23, shall be excluded from and shall not be made available to the public on

a school or school district website.

     (b) There is appropriated the sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), from money

not otherwise appropriated, to the department of elementary and secondary education to implement

a school committee/administrator training program.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- SCHOOL COMMITTEES AND SUPERINTENDENTS

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     This act would repeal the requirement that the school committee policy manual be kept in

the school library, public library and administrative building and require that the manual be made

available on the school district website. Provided, a school or school district comprehensive school

safety plan would not be made available to the public on a school or school district website.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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