00                 SPONSOR SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL NO. 11                                                              
01 "An Act relating to a dress code for public schools."                                                                   
02 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA:                                                                
03    * Section 1. AS 14.03 is amended by adding a new section to read:                                                  
04            Sec. 14.03.135. School dress code. (a) A governing body shall adopt a                                      
05       reasonable dress code that requires a student attending grades kindergarten through six                           
06       in a public elementary school in the district to wear a uniform. The dress code may                               
07       also prohibit a student from wearing specified clothing if the governing body                                     
08       determines the prohibition is necessary for the health and safety of the students or                              
09       teachers of the district.                                                                                         
10            (b)  A dress code that requires students to wear a uniform may not be                                        
11       implemented unless the governing body                                                                             
12                 (1)  provides at least six months' notice to the student body and to                                    
13       parents of students in the district;                                                                              
14                 (2)  determines that financial resources are available to assist                                        
15       economically disadvantaged students;                                                                              

01                 (3)  includes in it a provision allowing parents to exclude their children                              
02       from the dress code; and                                                                                          
03                 (4)  includes in it a provision that a student may not be academically                                  
04       penalized or otherwise discriminated against if the student is excepted from the                                  
05       uniform requirement under (3) of this subsection.                                                                 
06            (c)  A dress code adopted under this section may not preclude students who                                   
07       participate in a nationally recognized youth organization from wearing organization                               
08       uniforms on days when the organization has a scheduled meeting.                                                   
09            (d)  A governing body may adopt a reasonable dress code consistent with this                                 
10       section for students attending a public school in the district in grades seven through                            
11       12, and in grade six if the students in grade six attend a school that is not a public                            
12       elementary school.                                                                                                
13            (e)  In this section, "public elementary school" means a public school that                                  
14       consists of grades kindergarten through six or any combination of those grades within                             
15       this range.