(1) DEFINITIONS.

• (k) Weapon- includes dangerous weapons, firearms, and hazardous objects as defined in Code Section 20-2-751.

(2) REQUIREMENTS.

• (a) Each local board of education shall adopt policies designed to improve the student learning environment by improving student behavior and discipline. These policies shall provide for the development of age appropriate student codes of conduct that contain the following, at a minimum:

• 11. Possession of a weapon, as provided for in O.C.G.A. § 16-11-127.1;

• (l) No student in public preschool through third grade shall be expelled or suspended from school for more than five consecutive or cumulative days during a school year without first receiving a multi-tiered system of supports, such as response to intervention, unless such student possessed a weapon, illegal drugs, or other dangerous instrument or such student's behavior endangers the physical safety of other students or school personnel pursuant to O.C.G.A. 20-2-742.

(a) As used in this Code section, the term:

• (1) "Bus or other transportation furnished by a school" means a bus or other transportation furnished by a public or private elementary or secondary school.
• (2) "School function" means a school function or related activity that occurs outside of a school safety zone and is for a public or private elementary or secondary school.
• (3) "School safety zone" means in or on any real property or building owned by or leased to:
• (A) Any public or private elementary school, secondary school, or local board of education and used for elementary or secondary education; and
• (B) Any public or private technical school, vocational school, college, university, or other institution of postsecondary education.
• (4) "Weapon" means and includes any pistol, revolver, or any weapon designed or intended to propel a missile of any kind, or any dirk, bowie knife, switchblade knife, ballistic knife, any other knife having a blade of two or more inches, straight-edge razor, razor blade, spring stick, knuckles, whether made from metal, thermoplastic, wood, or other similar material, blackjack, any bat, club, or other bludgeon-type weapon, or any flailing instrument consisting of two or more rigid parts connected in such a manner as to allow them to swing freely, which may be known as a nun chahka, nun chuck, nunchaku, shuriken, or fighting chain, or any disc, of whatever configuration, having at least two points or pointed blades which is designed to be thrown or propelled and which may be known as a throwing star or oriental dart, or any weapon of like kind, and any stun gun or taser as defined in subsection (a) of Code Section 16-11-106. This paragraph excludes any of these instruments used for classroom work authorized by the teacher.

(b)

• (1) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (c) of this Code section, it shall be unlawful for any person to carry to or to possess or have under such person's control while within a school safety zone, at a school function, or on a bus or other transportation furnished by a school any weapon or explosive compound, other than fireworks or consumer fireworks the possession of which is regulated by Chapter 10 of Title 25.
• (2) Except as provided for in paragraph (20) of subsection (c) of this Code section, any license holder who violates this subsection shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Any person who is not a license holder who violates this subsection shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000.00, by imprisonment for not less than two nor more than ten years, or both.
• (3) Any person convicted of a violation of this subsection involving a dangerous weapon or machine gun, as such terms are defined in Code Section 16-11-121, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $10,000.00 or by imprisonment for a period of not less than five nor more than ten years, or both.
• (4) A child who violates this subsection may be subject to the provisions of Code Section 15-11-601.

(a) Each local board of education shall establish a policy, pursuant to this subpart, regarding a student's possession of a firearm, dangerous weapon, or hazardous object at school. With respect to a student who is determined to have possessed a firearm or dangerous weapon at school, such policy shall require expulsion from school for a period of not less than one calendar year; provided, however, that a hearing officer, tribunal, panel, administrator, superintendent, or local board of education shall have the authority to modify such expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis.

(b) A hearing officer, tribunal, panel, superintendent, or local board of education shall be authorized to place a student determined to have brought a firearm, dangerous weapon, or hazardous object to school in an alternative educational setting.

(c) Nothing in this Code section shall infringe on any right provided to students with Individualized Education Programs pursuant to the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973, or the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

(a) Each student code of conduct shall contain provisions that address the following conduct of students during school hours, at school related functions, and on the school bus in a manner that is appropriate to the age of the student:

• (12) Possession of a firearm, as provided for in Code Section 16-11-127.1, and possession of a dangerous weapon or hazardous object.