SB 206 - This act modifies the requirements for school antibullying policies. The definition of "bullying" is modified in the act. This act removes the requirement that policies not identify lists of protected classes of students. School district policies must contain, at a minimum, the following components: a statement requiring district employees to report an instance of bullying of which he or she has firsthand knowledge, has reasonable cause to suspect that a student has been subject to bullying, or has received a report of bullying from a student; the district administration must notify the parents or guardians of the individual alleged in a report to be responsible for a bullying incident; a procedure for reporting an act of bullying, including anonymous reporting, as described in the act; a procedure for prompt investigations of reports of violations and complaints; how a school will respond to a confirmed incident of bullying; and a process for discussing the policy with students and training employees and volunteers, as described in the act. The policy must be reviewed annually for compliance with state and federal law.
Any student alleging to be the target of an incident of bullying who has completed all procedures required by the district's reporting policy and who continues to be subjected to bullying must be informed by the district that he or she may seek other remedies, including civil action and intervention by any other county, state, or federal agency or office that is empowered to act on behalf of the student.
The State Board of Education must develop model antibullying policies to assist school districts no later than September 1, 2018, and has authority to promulgate rules and regulations under this act.
This act is substantially similar to SB 728 (2016), SB 748 (2016), and is similar to SCS/HCS/HB 1583 (2016), SB 440 (2015), SS/SCS/HB 458 (2015), HCS/HB 134 (2013), and HCS/HB 1049 (2012).
JAMIE ANDREWS