A bill that would outlaw the paddling of public school students with disabilities cleared another hurdle Thursday when the Senate Education Committee endorsed it.
The measure is part of Gov. John Bel Edwards' modest public schools agenda.
Louisiana's tradition of paddling public school students includes those with disabilities, a…
The legislation, House Bill 79, earlier passed the House and next faces a vote in the full Senate.
Under current rules, corporal punishment is an option for all 69 local school districts statewide.
The bill would make it illegal to do so on students with disabilities, including those with Individual Education Plans, or IEPs.
"What this bill does is very simple," said state Rep. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge and sponsor of the measure.
On the eve of a larger vote, the Louisiana House approved a bill Tuesday night that would ba…
However, the measure sparked extended discussions on exactly which students would be included in the prohibition.
Action on the proposal was delayed last week so officials could add an amendment that defines corporal punishment, which sparked a nationwide hunt.
Under the amended HB79, it would include hitting, paddling, striking, spanking, slapping "or any other physical force that causes pain or physical discomfort."
On Thursday new concerns were raised by Sen. Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe.
Walsworth said students diagnosed as ADHD – attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder – should be added to the bill.
Those students are characterized by problems concentrating, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
Walsworth said the students' conditions "are just part of their lives" and they should be separate from their rank-and-file peers when it comes to punishment being doled out in schools.
Without those students being added, he told backers, "you are saying you are fine with these but not fine with those."
Walsworth's amendment added students who have an Individual Accommodation Plan, which includes a variety of conditions.
Supporters were initially concerned about expanding the bill because of fears it could spark opposition from lawmakers who view it as going too far to do away with paddling in public schools.
"It is just a much broader category," said Donald Songy, the governor's education policy adviser. "We do not want to jeopardize the original bill."
The House approved Foil's plan 96-0 but rejected a separate proposal to abolish corporal punishment.
Paddling public school students will remain legal in Louisiana.
Songy told the committee kids with disabilities are "a most vulnerable population, and the bill will offer protection for them."
