Notes

Senate Bill No. 45 "Matt's Safe School Law"
* School board will adopt a policy prohibiting harassment or bullying in schools
* Adoption process should be adopted using a process where parents, employees, volunteers, students, administrators & community representatives are included.
* Policy must have:
- statement prohibiting harassment
- definition of harassment
- description of appropriate expectations
- age appropriate consequences for violations
- procedure for reporting harassment (including ability to report anonymously)
- procedure for prompt (3 day) investigation, including a person responsible for investigating
- range of ways a school will respond (depending on severity of incident & record of past bullying)
- statement prohibiting retaliation
- consequences for students who falsely accuse others
- statement of how the policy will be publicized
- statement encouraging students to notify identified person
- statement stating that if an employee sees an incident, they MUST report it
* Policy must be adopted by 12/31/11
* A model policy will be developed by the Dept. of Ed. by 6/1/11
* Notification of the policy will be in school district's policy manual
* Employees who notify authorities immediately are not liable for damages
* Schools encouraged to develop bullying initiatives involving parents, employees, volunteers, students, administrators & community representatives
* Each district will do the following:
- provide annual pd on bullying policies
- develop a process for discussing bullying with students
* Policy will be included in new staff training
* This policy does not prevent a victim from seeking help under other laws
* Schools will report incidents of bullying to the Dept. of Ed. on an annual basis
* If incident involves reporting to law enforcement, they will investigate within 3 days of report
* "at school" means:
- classroom, school premises, bus, bus stop, way to or from school, school sponsored event
- includes telecommunication devices
* "bullying" means:
- directed at 1 or more person
- substantially interferes with education
- adversely affects ability to participate in educational programs or activities without fear of harm or emotional distress
- based on persons actual or perceived religion, race, color, origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, height, weight, gender identity, socioeconomic status, etc.