HLS 13RS-829 ENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 91
BY REPRESENTATIVE SMITH
STUDENT/DISCIPLINE: Creates the Task Force on Bullying Prevention in Public Schools
to study the procedures and processes by which incidents of bullying are reported
and investigated
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To create the Task Force on Bullying Prevention in Public Schools to study the procedures2
and processes by which incidents of bullying are reported and investigated and to3
provide for submission of a written report of task force findings, conclusions, and4
recommendations to the House Committee on Education and the Senate Committee5
on Education not later than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2014 Regular6
Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.7
WHEREAS, as stated in the Constitution of Louisiana, it is the goal of the public8
education system to provide learning environments and experiences at all stages of human9
development that are humane, just, and designed to promote excellence in order that every10
individual may be afforded an equal opportunity to develop to his full potential; and11
WHEREAS, R.S. 17:416.13(B) requires the governing authority of each public12
elementary and secondary school to incorporate into a student code of conduct a policy13
prohibiting the bullying of a student by another student; and14
WHEREAS, R.S. 17:416.13(D) requires the State Board of Elementary and15
Secondary Education, in collaboration with the state Department of Education, to develop16
and adopt rules and regulations relative to the procedures and processes used to report and17
investigate bullying, including a time line for investigation, written reports, parental18
notification, and the interviewing of students regarding bullying incidents; and19 HLS 13RS-829 ENGROSSED
HCR NO. 91
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WHEREAS, student safety should be the utmost priority at both the state and local1
levels, and in spite of current law, there are students who are bullied by other students; and2
WHEREAS, it is vital that the procedures and processes for the reporting and3
investigation of bullying effectively provide for the thorough investigation of bullying4
incidents, the appropriate responses to students who exhibit bullying behaviors and to5
students who are bullying targets, and the establishment of preventative measures to reduce6
the recurrence of bullying; and7
WHEREAS, in order for the public education system to meet its constitutional goal8
of providing learning environments and experiences at all stages of human development that9
are humane, just, and designed to promote excellence, it is imperative that every possible10
precaution be taken to ensure the protection of Louisiana's students from bullying.11
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby12
create the Task Force on Bullying Prevention in Public Schools to study the procedures and13
processes by which incidents of bullying are reported and investigated.14
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall be composed of the15
following members:16
(1) A member of the staff of the state Department of Education who shall be17
designated by the state superintendent of education and who shall serve as chair of the task18
force and, by August 1, 2013, shall convene the task force for its first meeting at which the19
task force shall adopt rules of procedure, a work schedule, and any additional measures that20
it deems necessary for the timely performance of its duties. 21
(2) A representative of the school climate section of the state Department of22
Education's division of consolidated programming, designated by the director of this23
division.24
(3) A representative of the Louisiana Association of School Executives, designated25
by the executive director of the association.26
(4) A representative of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, designated by the27
president of the federation.28
(5) A representative of the Louisiana Association of Educators, designated by the29
president of the association.30 HLS 13RS-829 ENGROSSED
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(6) A representative of the Association of Professional Educators of Louisiana,1
designated by the executive director of the association.2
(7) The president of the Louisiana School Counselor Association or his designee.3
(8) A representative of the Louisiana Assembly on School-Based Health Centers,4
designated by the executive director of the assembly.5
(9) A representative of the Schools First Project of the Juvenile Justice Project of6
Louisiana, designated by the director of the Schools First Project.7
(10) The executive director of the Louisiana chapter of the National Association of8
Social Workers or his designee.9
(11) A representative of the office of the governor, designated by the governor.10
(12) Any additional education practitioner who has experience addressing the issue11
of bullying, designated by the state superintendent of education.12
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall submit a written report of13
findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the House Committee on Education and the14
Senate Committee on Education not later than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 201415
Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana and that such recommendations shall include16
but not be limited to those relative to the following:17
(1) The notification of parents of students involved in bullying investigations.18
(2) The time line for the investigation of bullying, including the commencement of19
the investigation after a written report is received and the duration of the investigation.20
(3) The nature of written reports required to be filed by teachers, principals, and21
other school employees in the course of bullying investigations, including recommendations22
relative to the appropriate level of detail required in a bullying incident report.23
(4) Best practices for identifying the underlying causes or motives for bullying,24
including identifying attributes of students who exhibit bullying behavior, students who are25
targets of bullying, and students who are bystanders, effective interventions at various grade26
levels, and evidence-based prevention programs. 27
(5) Best practices for responding to bullying incidents and preventing future bullying28
incidents, including measures such as restorative justice practices that take into account the29 HLS 13RS-829 ENGROSSED
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full context of the bullying incident in the school community and the age, development1
status, and history of the students involved.2
(6) Legislation, if any, relative to the issue.3
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the report shall also include a report on the4
implementation of R.S. 17:416.13(B)(2)(b), which requires the governing authority of each5
public elementary and secondary school to create a program to provide a minimum of four6
hours of training each year for all school employees, including bus drivers, with respect to7
bullying.8
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the state superintendent of education or his9
designee shall be responsible for designating staff to assist the task force in performing its10
duties.11
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the task force shall meet at least three times12
prior to the submission of its written report and that members of the task force shall serve13
without compensation.14
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the15
president of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, and to the state16
superintendent of education who shall be responsible for transmitting a copy to each of the17
offices, associations, or organizations from which the members of the task force are being18
selected or designated.19
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Smith HCR No. 91
Creates the Task Force on Bullying Prevention in Public Schools to study the procedures and
processes by which incidents of bullying are reported and investigated.
Provides that the task force shall have the following members, who shall serve without
compensation:
(1) A member of the staff of the state Dept. of Education who shall be designated by the
state superintendent of education and who shall serve as chair of the task force and
convene the first meeting prior to Aug. 1, 2013.
(2) A representative of the school climate section of the state Dept. of Education's
division of consolidated programming, designated by the director of the division. HLS 13RS-829 ENGROSSED
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(3) A representative of the La. Assoc. of School Executives, designated by the executive
director.
(4) A representative of the La. Federation of Teachers, designated by the president.
(5) A representative of the La. Assoc. of Educators, designated by the president.
(6) A representative of the Assoc. of Professional Educators of La., designated by the
executive director.
(7) The president of the La. School Counselor Association or his designee.
(8) A representative of the La. Assembly on School-Based Health Centers, designated
by the executive director.
(9) A representative of the Schools First Project of the Juvenile Justice Project of La.,
designated by the director of the Schools First Project.
(10) The executive director of the La. chapter of the National Assoc. of Social Workers
or his designee.
(11) A representative of the office of the governor, designated by the governor.
(12)Any additional education practitioner who has experience in addressing the issue of
bullying, designated by the state superintendent of education.
Provides that the state superintendent of education or his designee shall designate staff to
assist the task force. Provides that the task force shall meet at least three times before the
submission of its written report. Provides that at least 60 days before the 2014 R.S., the task
force shall submit to the House and Senate education committees a written report of
findings, conclusions, and recommendations, including but not limited to:
(1)A report on the implementation of present law (R.S. 17:416.13(B)(2)(b)), which
requires each public school governing authority to create a program to provide at
least four hours of training each year for all school employees, including bus drivers,
with respect to bullying.
(2) Recommendations relative to the following:
(a)The notification of parents of students involved in bullying investigations.
(b)The time line for the investigation of bullying.
(c)The nature of written reports required to be filed by teachers, principals, and
other school employees for bullying investigations.
(d)Best practices for identifying the underlying causes or motivations behind
bullying, including identifying attributes of students who exhibit bullying
behavior, students who are targets of bullying, and students who are
bystanders, effective interventions at various grade levels, and evidence-
based prevention programs.
(e)Best practices for responding to bullying incidents and preventing future
bullying incidents.
(f)Legislation, if any. HLS 13RS-829 ENGROSSED
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Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original
resolution.
1. Changes the chair of the task force from the director of the state Dept. of
Education's division of consolidated programming or his designee to a
department staff member designated by the state superintendent of education.
2. Additionally provides for membership on the task force of any education
practitioner who has experience in addressing the issue of bullying, designated
by the state superintendent of education.