Louisiana 2012 Regular Session

Louisiana House Bill HR159 Latest Draft

Bill / Enrolled Version

                            ENROLLED
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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 159
BY REPRESENTATIVE SMITH
A RESOLUTION
To urge and request the Louisiana School Boards Association to develop and implement a
training program for school board members on harassment, intimidation, and
bullying of students to be conducted at its annual conference or in special meetings
throughout the state.
WHEREAS, as stated in the Constitution of Louisiana, it is the goal of the public
educational system to provide learning environments and experiences at all stages of human
development that are humane, just, and designed to promote excellence in order that every
individual may be afforded an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential; and
WHEREAS, current law requires most city, parish, and other local public school
boards to adopt a student code of conduct, which shall incorporate a policy prohibiting the
harassment, intimidation, and bullying of a student by another student; and
WHEREAS, in spite of current law, there are students who suffer harassment,
intimidation, and bullying by other students; and
WHEREAS, student safety should be the utmost priority at both the state and local
levels; and
WHEREAS, training for school board members relative to bullying is one way to
raise awareness and might help to alleviate the epidemic of bullying in public schools; and
WHEREAS, this training should include but need not be limited to content relative
to suicide prevention, including the relationship between suicide risk factors and harassment,
intimidation, and bullying; and 
WHEREAS, this training should be based on information supported by
peer-reviewed research conducted in compliance with accepted scientific methods and
recognized as accurate by leading professional organizations and agencies with relevant ENROLLEDHR NO. 159
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experience, such as the American Psychological Association, Louisiana School Counselors
Association, and the state Department of Health and Hospitals; and
WHEREAS, in order for the public education system to meet its constitutional goal
of providing learning environments and experiences at all stages of human development that
are humane, just, and designed to promote excellence, it is imperative that every possible
precaution be taken to ensure the protection of Louisiana's students from harassment,
intimidation, and bullying.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the House of Representatives of the
Legislature of Louisiana does hereby urge and request the Louisiana School Boards
Association to develop and implement a training program for school board members on
harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students to be conducted at its annual conference
or in special meetings throughout the state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted
to the executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATI VES