Georgetown ISD officials chose to pursue an exemption to a portion of House Bill 114, a law mandating harsher penalties for e-cigarettes on school campuses in Texas, on Oct. 16.
What's happening?
GISD officials chose to seek an exemption from a state law requiring harsher punishments for students for having e-cigarettes regardless of what substance is in the device. The exemption only applies to the part of the mandate regarding nicotine vapes and e-cigarettes.
A new law that went into effect Sept. 1, HB 114, mandates students caught in possession of, selling or using e-cigarettes, also known as vapes; marijuana; or THC products while on campus, at a school-related event or within 300 feet of school property will be required to attend their district's alternative education program, or DAEP.
Students will also be required to complete an agency-approved drug and alcohol awareness program, either in person or online, the bill states.
Wes Vanicek, GISD's chief strategist for assessment and feedback, said at an Oct. 5 workshop that the district would instead opt to treat instances of nicotine on campus based on the type of substance in it rather than the method of delivery. This plan would also only be subject to nicotine vapes and e-cigarettes.
The backstory
GISD's status as a District of Innovation allows it to choose to exempt itself from the statute, Vanicek said during the Oct. 5 workshop. He said if the district chooses to opt out of this section of the law, students found with nicotine on school property will be subject to campus-based disciplinary actions, such as in-school suspension, or a discretionary placement at DAEP. It would not result in an automatic placement at the district's alternative program, depending on the severity of the offense.
