School Discipline Overhaul Bill Heard In Colorado

DENVER (AP) -- Lawmakers are deciding whether to scale back strict Columbine-era school discipline policies under a Colorado bill in the state Senate.

A vote on the bill was delayed two weeks ago amid concern from lawmakers who said the proposal had become too complicated. Additional modifications to the bill are expected to be discussed Thursday.

The proposal sponsored by Democratic Sens. Linda Newell and Evie Hudak seeks to eliminate zero-tolerance policies that sometimes prompt mandatory expulsions for minor offenses. The bill also tries to give school administrators more discretion over student discipline.

Supporters of the bill say lawmakers and school officials overreacted in the wake of the 1999 Columbine High School shootings.

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