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.
(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. 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.