A bill for an act modifying provisions related to the harassment or bullying of students enrolled in school districts or accredited nonpublic schools.(Formerly HF 149.)
By amending the definitions of harassment and bullying found in Code section 280.28, the bill intends to enhance policies that prevent such behaviors in educational settings. The changes reinforce and clarify the expectations schools must uphold in protecting students from harassment, which could lead to a more secure atmosphere for learning. Additionally, the bill contains provisions that affect other related statutes by ensuring that definitions are consistently referenced across the state's education laws, potentially leading to better enforcement of anti-bullying measures.
House File 865 aims to modify existing provisions related to the bullying and harassment of students enrolled in school districts or accredited nonpublic schools in Iowa. The bill is a successor to HF 149 and seeks to refine the definitions of harassment and bullying to better protect students within educational environments. It emphasizes that harassment or bullying should be construed as repeated and targeted acts—whether electronic, written, verbal, or physical—that create an objectively hostile school environment. This shift aims to provide clearer guidelines for what constitutes wrongful conduct in schools.
Notably, there is contention surrounding the removal of the definition of 'trait or characteristic of the student' from the bullying definitions in Code section 280.28. Some lawmakers and advocacy groups may view this change as a step backward in protecting students who experience bullying based on specific identifiers such as race, gender, or disability. The bill's implications could spark discussions about whether the legislative amendments would be inclusive enough to address all forms of harassment adequately or whether they risk overlooking crucial aspects of student identities that warrant protection.