Senator Montgomery explains her “NO” vote on S415 (Marcellino). This legislation, the Faculty/Student Safety Act, authorizes school districts to enforce and continue in effect the suspension of a pupil ordered by the school district that the pupil previously attended if the suspension was the result of the pupil being physically violent, a sexual assault, or a weapons possession or use on school grounds.

As a leading voice for criminal and juvenile justice reform and the sponsor of legislation that would Raise the Age adolescents can be charged as an adult, Senator Montgomery outlines her concerns about school suspensions, their disparate impact on children of color, and the represenatation of suspensions as part of the pipeline for young people from school to prison.