A.  In addition to other student discipline policies, each school district shall adopt a policy providing for the expulsion from school, for a period of not less than one year, of any student who is determined to have knowingly brought a weapon to a school under the jurisdiction of the local board. The local school board or the superintendent of the school district may modify the expulsion requirement on a case-by-case basis.

B.  Student discipline policies shall also provide for placement in an alternative educational setting, for not more than forty-five days, of any student with a disability who is determined to have knowingly brought a weapon to a school under the jurisdiction of the local board. If a parent or guardian of the student requests a due process hearing, then the student shall remain in the alternative educational setting during the pendency of any proceeding, unless the parent or guardian and the school district agree otherwise.

C.  For the purposes of this section, “weapon” means:

• (1)  any firearm that is designed to, may readily be converted to or will expel a projectile by the action of an explosion; and
• (2)  any destructive device that is an explosive or incendiary device, bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellent charge of more than four ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter-ounce, mine or similar device.

A. If a public school administrator or employee has reasonable cause to believe that a child is in possession of or has been in possession of a firearm on school premises in violation of Section 30-7-2.1 NMSA 1978, the administrator or employee shall immediately report the child’s actions to a law enforcement agency and the children, youth and families department.

B. Upon receipt of a report pursuant to Subsection A of this section, the law enforcement agency may conduct an investigation to determine if there is probable cause to believe that the child possessed a firearm on school premises.

C. If the law enforcement agency determines there is probable cause to believe that the child possessed a firearm on school premises, the law enforcement agency may take the child into custody and deliver the child to a detention facility licensed by the department. After the child is delivered to a detention facility, the department shall comply with the notification provisions set forth in Subsection C of Section 32A-2-10 NMSA 1978. The child shall be detained in the detention facility, pending a detention hearing pursuant to the provisions of Section 32A-2-13 NMSA 1978.

D. As used in this section, “firearm” means any weapon that will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by the action of an explosion; the frame or receiver of any such weapon; or any firearm muffler or firearm silencer. “Firearm” includes any handgun, rifle or shotgun.