Section 48918.5 Of Article 1. Suspension Or Expulsion From California Education Code >> Division 4. >> Title 2. >> Part 27. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 1.
48918.5
. In expulsion hearings involving allegations brought
pursuant to subdivision (n) of Section 48900, the governing board of
each school district shall establish rules and regulations governing
procedures. The procedures shall include, but are not limited to, all
of the following:
(a) At the time that the expulsion hearing is recommended, the
complaining witness shall be provided with a copy of the applicable
disciplinary rules and advised of his or her right to: (1) receive
five days' notice of the complaining witness's scheduled testimony at
the hearing, (2) have up to two adult support persons of his or her
choosing, present in the hearing at the time he or she testifies; and
(3) to have the hearing closed during the time they testify pursuant
to subdivision (c) of Section 48918.
(b) An expulsion hearing may be postponed for one schoolday in
order to accommodate the special physical, mental, or emotional needs
of a pupil who is the complaining witness where the allegations
arise under subdivision (n) of Section 48900.
(c) The district shall provide a nonthreatening environment for a
complaining witness in order to better enable them to speak freely
and accurately of the experiences that are the subject of the
expulsion hearing, and to prevent discouragement of complaints. Each
school district shall provide a room separate from the hearing room
for the use of the complaining witness prior to and during breaks in
testimony. In the discretion of the person conducting the hearing,
the complaining witness shall be allowed reasonable periods of relief
from examination and cross-examination during which he or she may
leave the hearing room. The person conducting the hearing may arrange
the seating within the hearing room of those present in order to
facilitate a less intimidating environment for the complaining
witness. The person conducting the hearing may limit the time for
taking the testimony of a complaining witness to the hours he or she
is normally in school, if there is no good cause to take the
testimony during other hours. The person conducting the hearing may
permit one of the complaining witness's support persons to accompany
him or her to the witness stand.
(d) Whenever any allegation is made of conduct violative of
subdivision (n) of Section 48900, complaining witnesses and accused
pupils are to be advised immediately to refrain from personal or
telephonic contact with each other during the pendency of any
expulsion process.