HB 1597 -- School Bullying

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
substantial disruption of 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 motivated upon a person's
real or perceived affiliation with any of several specified
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 additional provisions that must be required in each
district's antibullying policy 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 the policy,
and procedures for implementing and maintaining annual
confidential surveys of students and school employees; and

(6)  Requires the State Board of Education within the Department
of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop model policies
to assist local school districts in developing policies for the
prevention of bullying no later than September 1, 2012.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated March 9, 2012 at 1:33 pm