By Mr. Atsalis of Barnstable, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 388) of Demetrius J. Atsalis and Walter F. Timilty relative to dress codes in public schools.  Education.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Demetrius J. Atsalis

Walter F. Timilty

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act relative to dress codes in public schools.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

      SECTION 1.  Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking Section 83 and inserting in place thereof the following section:—
            Section 83. School officials shall not abridge the rights of students as to personal dress and appearance except if such officials: a) determine that such personal dress and appearance violate reasonable standards of health, safety and cleanliness or b) are acting in accordance with a code of personal dress and appearance as authorized by the school committee of each city, town, or regional school district after reasonable consultation with the school councils of each city, town or regional school district; and c) only if said standards or code of personal dress and appearance are defined and included in the official student handbook, or are distributed to each student and his parent or guardian at the start of each school year, or upon enrollment, whichever occurs first.

            SECTION 2. Section 86 of chapter 71, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is amended by striking out the text in its entirety and inserting in place thereof the following:— The provision of sections 83 to 85 shall apply only to municipal, vocational and regional school districts that accept the same by a majority vote of the school committee, or in the case of a charter school, by the board of trustees.