FRANKFORT (Kentucky Today) – State Sen. Matt Nunn, R-Sadieville, has introduced Senate Bill 101, which is designed to strengthen protections for Kentucky’s teachers against violence from their students.
- Key provisions of the legislation include:
- Expulsion for 12 months for physically injuring school staff.
- Required reporting of all attempted assaults on staff.
- Criminal penalties for failure to report such incidents.
- Potential prosecution as adults for students 14 and older who are charged with felony third-degree assault, with discretion remaining with local prosecutors.
“This bill is about the classroom. It’s common sense 101,” said Nunn. “We support and protect our teachers who walk into school every day with our kids’ best interest at heart.”
SB 101 is a follow-up to and building upon on bipartisan legislation implemented in 2024, sponsored by former law enforcement officer Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, which made any assault against a health care worker in a health care setting a felony. This would be in addition to the student discipline legislation enacted during the 2025 Legislative Session.
Nunn says SB 101 will continue that same commitment, ensuring those who serve the public aren’t left vulnerable.
“I talk with a lot of educators, whether it’s in the community or during school visits, and there’s a growing sense that their safety is negotiable. It’s not,” he noted. “If we want to recruit and retain great teachers, they have to be able to do their jobs without fear. Teachers and students alike deserve a learning environment free from violence.”
No committee hearing date has been set for the measure. As of Tuesday morning, it was still in the hands of the Committee on Committees, and has not yet been assigned to the panel that will take it up for consideration and conduct a hearing on it before floor action can take place.
