48915
. (a) (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (c) and (e), the
principal or the superintendent of schools shall recommend the
expulsion of a pupil for any of the following acts committed at
school or at a school activity off school grounds, unless the
principal or superintendent determines that expulsion should not be
recommended under the circumstances or that an alternative means of
correction would address the conduct:
(A) Causing serious physical injury to another person, except in
self-defense.
(B) Possession of any knife or other dangerous object of no
reasonable use to the pupil.
(C) Unlawful possession of any controlled substance listed in
Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the
Health and Safety Code, except for either of the following:
(i) The first offense for the possession of not more than one
avoirdupois ounce of marijuana, other than concentrated cannabis.
(ii) The possession of over-the-counter medication for use by the
pupil for medical purposes or medication prescribed for the pupil by
a physician.
(D) Robbery or extortion.
(E) Assault or battery, as defined in Sections 240 and 242 of the
Penal Code, upon any school employee.
(2) If the principal or the superintendent of schools makes a
determination as described in paragraph (1), he or she is encouraged
to do so as quickly as possible to ensure that the pupil does not
lose instructional time.
(b) Upon recommendation by the principal or the superintendent of
schools, or by a hearing officer or administrative panel appointed
pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 48918, the governing board of
a school district may order a pupil expelled upon finding that the
pupil committed an act listed in paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) or
in subdivision (a), (b), (c), (d), or (e) of Section 48900. A
decision to expel a pupil for any of those acts shall be based on a
finding of one or both of the following:
(1) Other means of correction are not feasible or have repeatedly
failed to bring about proper conduct.
(2) Due to the nature of the act, the presence of the pupil causes
a continuing danger to the physical safety of the pupil or others.
(c) The principal or superintendent of schools shall immediately
suspend, pursuant to Section 48911, and shall recommend expulsion of
a pupil that he or she determines has committed any of the following
acts at school or at a school activity off school grounds:
(1) Possessing, selling, or otherwise furnishing a firearm. This
subdivision does not apply to an act of possessing a firearm if the
pupil had obtained prior written permission to possess the firearm
from a certificated school employee, which is concurred in by the
principal or the designee of the principal. This subdivision applies
to an act of possessing a firearm only if the possession is verified
by an employee of a school district. The act of possessing an
imitation firearm, as defined in subdivision (m) of Section 48900, is
not an offense for which suspension or expulsion is mandatory
pursuant to this subdivision and subdivision (d), but it is an
offense for which suspension, or expulsion pursuant to subdivision
(e), may be imposed.
(2) Brandishing a knife at another person.
(3) Unlawfully selling a controlled substance listed in Chapter 2
(commencing with Section 11053) of Division 10 of the Health and
Safety Code.
(4) Committing or attempting to commit a sexual assault as defined
in subdivision (n) of Section 48900 or committing a sexual battery
as defined in subdivision (n) of Section 48900.
(5) Possession of an explosive.
(d) The governing board of a school district shall order a pupil
expelled upon finding that the pupil committed an act listed in
subdivision (c), and shall refer that pupil to a program of study
that meets all of the following conditions:
(1) Is appropriately prepared to accommodate pupils who exhibit
discipline problems.
(2) Is not provided at a comprehensive middle, junior, or senior
high school, or at any elementary school.
(3) Is not housed at the schoolsite attended by the pupil at the
time of suspension.
(e) Upon recommendation by the principal or the superintendent of
schools, or by a hearing officer or administrative panel appointed
pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 48918, the governing board of
a school district may order a pupil expelled upon finding that the
pupil, at school or at a school activity off of school grounds
violated subdivision (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), or (m) of
Section 48900, or Section 48900.2, 48900.3, or 48900.4, and either of
the following:
(1) That other means of correction are not feasible or have
repeatedly failed to bring about proper conduct.
(2) That due to the nature of the violation, the presence of the
pupil causes a continuing danger to the physical safety of the pupil
or others.
(f) The governing board of a school district shall refer a pupil
who has been expelled pursuant to subdivision (b) or (e) to a program
of study that meets all of the conditions specified in subdivision
(d). Notwithstanding this subdivision, with respect to a pupil
expelled pursuant to subdivision (e), if the county superintendent of
schools certifies that an alternative program of study is not
available at a site away from a comprehensive middle, junior, or
senior high school, or an elementary school, and that the only option
for placement is at another comprehensive middle, junior, or senior
high school, or another elementary school, the pupil may be referred
to a program of study that is provided at a comprehensive middle,
junior, or senior high school, or at an elementary school.
(g) As used in this section, "knife" means any dirk, dagger, or
other weapon with a fixed, sharpened blade fitted primarily for
stabbing, a weapon with a blade fitted primarily for stabbing, a
weapon with a blade longer than 3 1/2 inches, a folding knife with a
blade that locks into place, or a razor with an unguarded blade.
(h) As used in this section, the term "explosive" means
"destructive device" as described in Section 921 of Title 18 of the
United States Code.