Bills in the Alabama Legislature would set statewide disciplinary standards for K-12 public schools, including setting rules for when students should be removed from classrooms and a uniform process for suspensions and expulsions.

House Bill188 passed through the House Education Policy Committee unanimously last week. The bill would establish definitions and timetables for suspensions and expulsions. Sponsor Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, said the bill puts minimum standards in place “so that all our (school) systems have that baseline of positive influence.”

Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, is sponsoring the same bill in that chamber and it’s awaiting a Senate Education Policy Committee vote. Smitherman has advocated for this bill over multiple sessions. He could not be reached for comment.