Sec. 1. 20-A MRSA §254, sub-§11 is enacted to read:

11.__Statewide standards for behavior.__In consultation with organizations representing school boards, school administrators, teachers, parents and other interested local officials and community members, the commissioner shall develop statewide standards for responsible and ethical student behavior.__The standards must require annual reporting of incidents of violent and harmful behavior by or against students to the department by school administrative units.__The department shall provide forms for reporting.

Sec. 2. 20-A MRSA §1001, sub-§§15, 16 and 17 are enacted to read:

15.__Adoption of student code of conduct.__With input from educators, administrators, parents, students and community members, they shall adopt a district-wide student code of conduct consistent with the statewide standards for student behavior developed under section 254, subsection 11.__The student code of conduct must:

A.__Define unacceptable student behavior;

B.__Establish standards of student responsibility for behavior;

C.__Prescribe consequences for violation of the student code of conduct, including first-time violations, when appropriate;

D.__Describe appropriate procedures for referring students in need of special services to those services; and

E.__Establish criteria to determine when further assessment of a current individual education plan is necessary, based on removal of the student from class.

The school board is responsible for ensuring that school officials inform students, parents and community members of the student code of conduct.

16. Crisis response plan.__Working with local public safety, mental health and law enforcement officials, they shall develop a crisis response plan to deal with crises and potential crisis situations involving violent acts by or against students in each school in the school administrative unit.