HB 2036 -- Bullying in Schools

Sponsor:  Lampe

This bill changes the laws regarding bullying in schools.  In its
main provisions, the bill:

(1)  Revises the definition of "bullying" to include
discrimination; substantial interference with a student's
educational performance, opportunities, or benefits; or
substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school;

(2)  Prohibits bullying by school employees or students on school
property, at school functions, or on school buses;

(3)  Removes the requirement that a bullying policy not enumerate
protected classes of individuals and instead prohibits bullying
when it is reasonably perceived to be based upon a person's real
or perceived affiliation with any of several categories of
individuals;

(4)  Requires a school employee, student, or volunteer who has
witnessed or has reliable information that a student or employee
has been subject to discrimination or harassment to report the
incident to the appropriate school official;

(5)  Adds several mandatory school district policies including
procedures for reporting and investigating bullying incidents,
what information is acceptable as a basis for reporting, what
range of remedial action is possible, dissemination of policy
information, schedules for providing training and the review of
policies, and procedures for implementing and maintaining annual
confidential surveys of students and school employees; and

(6)  Requires the State Board of Education to develop model
policies to assist local districts in developing their policies
for the prevention of bullying no later than September 1, 2011.

Missouri House of Representatives
95th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated September 14, 2010 at 3:12 pm