1.1                          A bill for an act 
  1.2             relating to education; providing for a task force to 
  1.3             develop a student bill of rights and responsibilities 
  1.4             for effective learning. 
  1.5   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.6      Section 1.  [STUDENT BILL OF RIGHTS TASK FORCE.] 
  1.7      Subdivision 1.  [LEGISLATIVE INTENT.] It is the intent of 
  1.8   the legislature and the purpose of this section to promote the 
  1.9   interests of students in prekindergarten through grade 12 and 
  1.10  ensure that Minnesota public schools prepare students for 
  1.11  responsible citizenship and productive adulthood.  No public 
  1.12  school shall deny admission or participation in school 
  1.13  activities to a student based on gender, race, national origin, 
  1.14  ancestry, religion, creed, pregnancy, marital or parental 
  1.15  status, public assistance status, sexual orientation, mental or 
  1.16  emotional disability, sensory or learning disability, or other 
  1.17  health impairment.  Schools shall allow freedom of thought and 
  1.18  expression of ideas through examination of facts, information, 
  1.19  and evidence of different viewpoints.  Schools shall be free 
  1.20  from intimidation, violence, or harassment whether verbal, 
  1.21  physical, emotional, or sexual, and personal property shall be 
  1.22  protected from theft or damage.  It is the intent of this 
  1.23  section that every student have the opportunity to learn in a 
  1.24  positive school environment. 
  1.25     Subd. 2.  [ESTABLISHMENT.] A task force is established to 
  2.1   develop a student bill of rights and responsibilities for 
  2.2   effective learning. 
  2.3      Subd. 3.  [MEMBERSHIP.] The task force on a student bill of 
  2.4   rights and responsibilities consists of 24 members.  Twelve 
  2.5   members shall be appointed by the speaker of the house of 
  2.6   representatives and 12 members by the subcommittee on committees 
  2.7   in the senate.  The task force shall include legislators, 
  2.8   student representatives from schools throughout the state, 
  2.9   educators, and persons representing the diversity of the state.  
  2.10  To ensure diversity on the task force, the speaker and 
  2.11  subcommittee on committees shall ask for recommendations for 
  2.12  task force membership from the following: 
  2.13     (1) Minnesota Association of Student Councils; 
  2.14     (2) Minnesota Education Association; 
  2.15     (3) YMCA Youth in Government; 
  2.16     (4) Minnesota PTA Association; 
  2.17     (5) Council on the Economic Status of Women; 
  2.18     (6) Council on Disabilities; 
  2.19     (7) Indian Affairs Council; 
  2.20     (8) Gay and Lesbian Community Action Council; 
  2.21     (9) Minnesota Association of School Boards; 
  2.22     (10) Spanish-Speaking Affairs Council; 
  2.23     (11) Council for Asians and Pacific Islanders; 
  2.24     (12) Council on Black Minnesotans; 
  2.25     (13) Governor's scholars; 
  2.26     (14) Students involved in Project 120; and 
  2.27     (15) Department of Children, Families, and Learning. 
  2.28     In addition to student appointees, each nonstudent 
  2.29  appointee shall identify a student to share the nonstudent 
  2.30  appointment.  
  2.31     Subd. 4.  [DUTIES.] (a) The task force established under 
  2.32  subdivisions 2 and 3 shall develop proposed legislation for the 
  2.33  1997 legislative session.  Through its deliberations, the task 
  2.34  force shall address, at a minimum, students' rights: 
  2.35     (1) to participate, as appropriate to age, in the 
  2.36  decision-making processes that affect the student's education; 
  3.1      (2) to learn and work in school districts, schools, and 
  3.2   classrooms where high grades stand for high achievement; 
  3.3      (3) to learn and work in school districts, schools, and 
  3.4   classrooms that have clear discipline codes, to be informed of 
  3.5   the codes, and to have the codes fairly and consistently 
  3.6   enforced; 
  3.7      (4) to learn and work in schools where teachers are 
  3.8   professionals who know the subject matter being taught and how 
  3.9   to teach it; 
  3.10     (5) to expect that the school districts, schools, and 
  3.11  classrooms have the resources necessary for students to succeed 
  3.12  in achieving clearly stated and rigorous academic standards; 
  3.13     (6) to exercise freedom of thought and ideas through 
  3.14  examination of facts, information, and evidence including 
  3.15  differing viewpoints; 
  3.16     (7) to discuss issues, including those viewed by some as 
  3.17  controversial, in a manner appropriate to the students' level of 
  3.18  maturity, in order to develop critical thinking and other skills 
  3.19  that prepare the students for full participation as citizens in 
  3.20  a democratic society; 
  3.21     (8) to hold personal religious or political beliefs, to 
  3.22  have a learning environment unencumbered by restrictions imposed 
  3.23  by the religious or political beliefs of others, and to expect 
  3.24  that curricula and the practice of teaching will be based on 
  3.25  academic merits; 
  3.26     (9) to receive confidential services from school personnel 
  3.27  and be informed of the limits to confidentiality, including 
  3.28  those provided for in law; and 
  3.29     (10) to attend schools where the school board, school 
  3.30  district, and staff demonstrate a high standard for dignity, 
  3.31  respect, and fair treatment towards all people regardless of 
  3.32  gender, race, national origin, ancestry, religion, creed, 
  3.33  pregnancy, marital or parental status, public assistance status, 
  3.34  sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, emotional or 
  3.35  sensory disability, learning disability, or other health 
  3.36  impairment. 
  4.1      (b) The task force deliberations shall address, at a 
  4.2   minimum, students' responsibilities: 
  4.3      (1) to participate, as appropriate to age, in the 
  4.4   decision-making processes that affect the student's education; 
  4.5      (2) to work to achieve high discipline standards; 
  4.6      (3) to work to achieve high academic standards; and 
  4.7      (4) to treat with respect others who hold differing 
  4.8   religious or political beliefs. 
  4.9      (c) The task force shall seek review and comment on its 
  4.10  proposed legislation from teachers and administrators of each 
  4.11  public elementary, middle, and secondary school in the state. 
  4.12     Subd. 5.  [STAFF SUPPORT.] The department of children, 
  4.13  families, and learning shall provide information and other 
  4.14  assistance requested by the task force. 
  4.15     Subd. 6.  [REPORT.] The task force shall begin its work by 
  4.16  June 1, 1996, and shall submit its proposed legislation to the 
  4.17  education committees of the legislature by January 15, 1997. 
  4.18     Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
  4.19     Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment.