HB 983 — Prohibit Corporal Punishment in Schools (Summary)
Status and timeline
- Bill title: Prohibit Corporal Punishment in Schools (HB 983).
- Introduced: 11/12/2024. Passed first reading; subsequently heard in committee and on calendars per the legislative record. The bill text states it is effective when enacted and “applies beginning with the 2025–2026 school year.” (The legislative action log also records later committee activity, postponements, and that the measure ultimately died in Judiciary Committee on 2025-06-16.)
Purpose and intent
- The bill would prohibit the use of corporal punishment in public schools statewide. The text notes research findings that corporal punishment does not improve academic outcomes and can harm students’ psychological and emotional development, and that most professional child- and education‑related organizations recommend bans.
Key provisions
- Express prohibition: Amends G.S. 115C-390.4 to state explicitly that “Corporal punishment is prohibited.” (Corporal punishment is defined in statute as “the intentional infliction of physical pain upon the body of a student as a disciplinary measure.”)
- Limited exceptions: The bill clarifies that certain practices are not treated as corporal punishment — specifically, physical restraint used in accordance with federal law and G.S. 115C-391.1, and the “reasonable use of force” authorized by G.S. 115C-390.3.
- Retained and revised reporting/recording duties: Several statutory sections that previously governed use/administration of corporal punishment are rewritten to reflect the ban while retaining requirements for data collection and reporting. School units must continue to report annually to the State Board of Education on discipline metrics; data reporting is to be disaggregated by local unit, race, gender, grade, ethnicity, and disability status.
- Statutory cleanup: The bill repeals G.S. 6-21.4 and updates cross-references in statutes addressing discipline and students with disabilities to align with the prohibition. It also preserves protections around federal privacy law (FERPA) for reporting.
- Transitional carve‑out: Section 6 of the bill (the repeal) does not apply to civil actions arising from corporal punishment that occurred prior to the bill’s effective date.
Who is affected
- Public school students and their parents/guardians, local school administrative units, teachers and school staff, and local/state education authorities (State Board of Education) responsible for oversight and reporting.
- School discipline policy: Local policies that previously permitted corporal punishment would need to be revised to comply with the statewide ban.
Potential impacts
- Policy change aligns state law with research and with the practices of other states that have banned corporal punishment. Local units already not using corporal punishment would see no operational change; units still allowing it would need to modify codes of conduct and training.
- Reporting/oversight duties remain and may require continued or adjusted data collection and public reporting.
Notes
- Although the bill text sets an effective date tied to enactment and application in the 2025–2026 school year, the legislative record shows mixed committee actions; consult the official state legislative status to confirm whether the bill was enacted or remains pending.
