AUSTIN, Texas – The following statement was issued today on passage of legislation to reform Texas’ “zero tolerance” law. Marc Levin, director of the Center for Effective Justice at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, said:
“We applaud the Legislature for making much needed reforms to Texas’ zero tolerance law.
“During this session, we learned of exemplary students who were expelled to a juvenile justice facility for unintentional mistakes, such as unknowingly bringing a pocket knife to school that was left in a jacket after hunting the day before or taking prescription pain relief medication at lunch.
“This legislation clarifies that expulsion is not required in such circumstances. It will restore common sense to the system by allowing school administrators to consider the intent and prior disciplinary of such students, if any, in determining the appropriate punishment.”
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