State senator seeks a drop in the dropping of drawers

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

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This look would go the way of top hats and tails if a state senator gets his way.

A bill currently before the state Senate is bringing a battle over britches.

State Senator Gary Siplin's bill would prohibit students from wearing their pants or shorts below the waist. The first offense would merit a warning, the second a three-day suspension, then a 10-day suspension for a third time.

"We fight so hard to make sure our kids get the right education," Siplin (D-Orlando) said. "And we don't want a distraction in the school system when they have to look at g-strings and the pants down. We want the kids to focus in on educating themselves, so they can matriculate through the education process and get a job and be a taxpayer, not a tax burden."

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To give the bill a better chance of passing this time, Siplin watered down the penalties. In years' past, he suggested jail time.

Majority whip Mike Fasano (R-New Port Richey) says the Senate's agenda should be different.

"Making sure that our children are getting the adequate education," Fasano said. "Making sure that our school districts are getting the dollars they need, making sure our teachers have the resources so they can teach. Dealing with dress codes, that should be done at the local level. [We should be] letting our elected school board members decide that."

Siplin doesn't have a companion bill in the state House, which means his bill is on track to die before the legislative session wraps up next week. But he said if the bill doesn't pass this session, he plans to introduce it again next year.