As used in this act:

(a) “Board of education” means the board of education of a unified school district or the governing authority of an accredited nonpublic school.

(b) “School” means a public school or an accredited nonpublic school.

(c) “Public school” means a school operated by a unified school district organized under the laws of this state.

(d) “Accredited nonpublic school” means a nonpublic school participating in the quality performance accreditation system.

(e) “Chief administrative officer of a school” means, in the case of a public school, the superintendent of schools and, in the case of an accredited nonpublic school, the person designated as chief administrative officer by the governing authority of the school.

(f) “Federal law” means the individuals with disabilities education act, section 504 of the rehabilitation act, the gun-free schools act of 1994, and regulations adopted pursuant to such acts.

(g) “Secretary of education” means the secretary of the United States department of education.

(h)(1) “Weapon” means: (A) Any weapon which will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosive; (B) the frame or receiver of any weapon described in the preceding example; (C) any firearm muffler or firearm silencer; (D) any explosive, incendiary, or poison gas: (i) Bomb; (ii) grenade; (iii) rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces; (iv) missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than ¼ ounce; (v) mine; or (vi) similar device; (E) any weapon which will, or which may be readily converted to, expel a projectile by the action of an explosive or other propellant, and which has any barrel with a bore of more than ½ inch in diameter; (F) any combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any device into any destructive device described in the two immediately preceding examples, and from which a destructive device may be readily assembled; (G) any bludgeon, sandclub, metal knuckles or throwing star; (H) any knife, commonly referred to as a switch-blade, which has a blade that opens automatically by hand pressure applied to a button, spring or other device in the handle of the knife, or any knife having a blade that opens or falls or is ejected into position by the force of gravity or by an outward, downward or centrifugal thrust or movement; or (I) any electronic device designed to discharge immobilizing levels of electricity, commonly known as a stun gun.

(2) The term “weapon” does not include within its meaning: (A) An antique firearm; (B) an air gun; (C) any device which is neither designed nor redesigned for use as a weapon; (D) any device, although originally designed for use as a weapon, which is redesigned for use as a signaling, pyrotechnic, line throwing, safety, or similar device; (E) surplus ordinance sold, loaned or given by the secretary of the army pursuant to the provisions of section 4684(2), 4685, or 4686 of title 10 of the United States Code; or (F) class C common fireworks.

(i) “Air gun” means any device which will or is designed to or may be readily converted to, expel a projectile by the release of compressed air or gas, and which is of 0.18 caliber or less and has a muzzle velocity that does not exceed 700 feet per second.

(j) “Organization” means any profit or nonprofit association, whether school-sponsored or community-based, whose primary purpose is to provide youth development by engaging individuals under the age of 18 in activities designed to promote and encourage self-confidence, teamwork and a sense of community.

(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of K.S.A. 72-6115, and amendments thereto, and subject to the other provisions of this section, each board of education in this state shall adopt a written policy requiring the expulsion from school for a period of not less than one year any pupil determined to be in possession of a weapon at school, on school property, or at a school supervised activity. The policy shall be filed with the state board of education in such manner as the state board shall require and at a time to be determined and specified by the state board.

(b) To the extent that the provisions contained in article 61 of chapter 72 of Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, do not conflict with the requirements of this act, such provisions shall apply to and be incorporated in the policy required to be adopted under subsection (a).

(c) If a pupil required to be expelled pursuant to a policy adopted under subsection (a) is confined in the custody of the secretary for children and families, the commissioner of juvenile justice or the secretary of corrections as a result of the violation upon which the expulsion is to be based, the hearing required under the provisions of article 61 of chapter 72 of Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto, shall be delayed until the pupil is released from custody. (d) A hearing afforded a pupil required to be expelled pursuant to a policy adopted under subsection (a) shall be conducted by the chief administrative officer or other certificated employee of the school in which the pupil is enrolled, by any committee of certificated employees of the school in which the pupil is enrolled, or by a hearing officer appointed by the board of education of the school in which the pupil is enrolled.

(e) The chief administrative officer of the school in which a pupil required to be expelled pursuant to a policy adopted under subsection (a) is enrolled may modify the expulsion requirement in a manner which is consistent with the requirements of federal law. Nothing in this subsection shall be applied or construed in any manner so as to require the chief administrative officer of a school to modify the expulsion requirement of a policy adopted by a board of education pursuant to the provisions of subsection (a). (f) The policy adopted by a board of education under subsection (a) shall contain a procedure for the referral of any pupil determined to be in possession of a weapon at school, on school property, or at a school supervised activity to the appropriate state and local law enforcement agencies and, if the pupil is a juvenile, to the secretary for children and families or the commissioner of juvenile justice.

(g) Each board of education shall prepare an annual report on a form prescribed and furnished by the state board of education that contains a description of the circumstances surrounding any expulsions imposed on pupils pursuant to a policy adopted under subsection (a), including the name of the school or schools concerned, the number of pupils expelled, and the type of weapons concerned. The report shall be submitted to the state board of education in such manner as the state board shall require and at a time to be determined and specified by the state board. (h) The provisions of this section do not apply to the possession by pupils of weapons at school, on school property, or at a school supervised activity if the possession of weapons by pupils is connected with a weapons safety course of instruction or a weapons education course approved and authorized by the school or if the possession of weapons by pupils is specifically authorized in writing by the chief administrative officer of the school.