NRS392.466. Suspension or expulsion of pupil for battery on employee of school, possession of firearm or dangerous weapon, sale or distribution of controlled substance or status as habitual disciplinary problem; limitations for pupils with disabilities.

      1.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, any pupil who commits a battery which results in the bodily injury of an employee of the school or who sells or distributes any controlled substance while on the premises of any public school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on any school bus must, for the first occurrence, be suspended or expelled from that school, although the pupil may be placed in another kind of school, for at least a period equal to one semester for that school. For a second occurrence, the pupil must be permanently expelled from that school and:

      (a) Enroll in a private school pursuant to chapter 394 of NRS or be homeschooled; or

      (b) Enroll in a program of independent study provided pursuant to NRS 389.155 for pupils who have been suspended or expelled from public school or a program of distance education provided pursuant to NRS 388.820 to 388.874, inclusive, if the pupil qualifies for enrollment and is accepted for enrollment in accordance with the requirements of the applicable program.

      2.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, any pupil who is found in possession of a firearm or a dangerous weapon while on the premises of any public school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on any school bus must, for the first occurrence, be expelled from the school for a period of not less than 1 year, although the pupil may be placed in another kind of school for a period not to exceed the period of the expulsion. For a second occurrence, the pupil must be permanently expelled from the school and:

      (a) Enroll in a private school pursuant to chapter 394 of NRS or be homeschooled; or

      (b) Enroll in a program of independent study provided pursuant NRS 389.155 for pupils who have been suspended or expelled from public school or a program of distance education provided pursuant to NRS 388.820 to 388.874, inclusive, if the pupil qualifies for enrollment and is accepted for enrollment in accordance with the requirements of the applicable program.

Ê The superintendent of schools of a school district may, for good cause shown in a particular case in that school district, allow a modification to the expulsion requirement of this subsection if such modification is set forth in writing.

      3.  Except as otherwise provided in this section, if a pupil is deemed a habitual disciplinary problem pursuant to NRS 392.4655, the pupil must be suspended or expelled from the school for a period equal to at least one semester for that school. For the period of the pupil’s suspension or expulsion, the pupil must:

      (a) Enroll in a private school pursuant to chapter 394 of NRS or be homeschooled; or

      (b) Enroll in a program of independent study provided pursuant to NRS 389.155 for pupils who have been suspended or expelled from public school or a program of distance education provided pursuant to NRS 388.820 to 388.874, inclusive, if the pupil qualifies for enrollment and is accepted for enrollment in accordance with the requirements of the applicable program.

      4.  This section does not prohibit a pupil from having in his or her possession a knife or firearm with the approval of the principal of the school. A principal may grant such approval only in accordance with the policies or regulations adopted by the board of trustees of the school district.

      5.  Any pupil in grades 1 to 6, inclusive, except a pupil who has been found to have possessed a firearm in violation of subsection 2, may be suspended from school or permanently expelled from school pursuant to this section only after the board of trustees of the school district has reviewed the circumstances and approved this action in accordance with the procedural policy adopted by the board for such issues.

      6.  A pupil who is participating in a program of special education pursuant to NRS 388.520, other than a pupil who is gifted and talented or who receives early intervening services, may, in accordance with the procedural policy adopted by the board of trustees of the school district for such matters, be:

      (a) Suspended from school pursuant to this section for not more than 10 days. Such a suspension may be imposed pursuant to this paragraph for each occurrence of conduct proscribed by subsection 1.

      (b) Suspended from school for more than 10 days or permanently expelled from school pursuant to this section only after the board of trustees of the school district has reviewed the circumstances and determined that the action is in compliance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq.

      7.  As used in this section:

      (a) “Battery” has the meaning ascribed to it in paragraph (a) of subsection 1 of NRS 200.481.

      (b) “Dangerous weapon” includes, without limitation, a blackjack, slungshot, billy, sand-club, sandbag, metal knuckles, dirk or dagger, a nunchaku, switchblade knife or trefoil, as defined in NRS 202.350, a butterfly knife or any other knife described in NRS 202.350, or any other object which is used, or threatened to be used, in such a manner and under such circumstances as to pose a threat of, or cause, bodily injury to a person.

      (c) “Firearm” includes, without limitation, any pistol, revolver, shotgun, explosive substance or device, and any other item included within the definition of a “firearm” in 18 U.S.C. § 921, as that section existed on July 1, 1995.

      8.  The provisions of this section do not prohibit a pupil who is suspended or expelled from enrolling in a charter school that is designed exclusively for the enrollment of pupils with disciplinary problems if the pupil is accepted for enrollment by the charter school pursuant to NRS 386.580. Upon request, the governing body of a charter school must be provided with access to the records of the pupil relating to the pupil’s suspension or expulsion in accordance with applicable federal and state law before the governing body makes a decision concerning the enrollment of the pupil.

      (Added to NRS by 1985, 1648; A 1987, 1550; 1989, 429; 1991, 628, 1364; 1993, 2161; 1995, 2710; 1997, 2489; 1999, 2113, 3317; 2001, 1022; 2003, 19th Special Session, 81; 2005, 1539; 2007, 1997, 3038; 2009, 756)