| 1 | 1 | | FIRSTREGULARSESSION |
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| 2 | 2 | | HOUSEBILLNO.351 |
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| 3 | 3 | | 103RDGENERALASSEMBLY |
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| 4 | 4 | | INTRODUCEDBYREPRESENTATIVEBLACK. |
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| 5 | 5 | | 0411H.01I DANARADEMANMILLER,ChiefClerk |
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| 6 | 6 | | ANACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | Torepealsection160.775,RSMo,andtoenactinlieuthereofonenewsectionrelatingto |
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| 8 | 8 | | schoolantibullyingpolicies. |
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| 9 | 9 | | BeitenactedbytheGeneralAssemblyofthestateofMissouri,asfollows: |
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| 10 | 10 | | SectionA.Section160.775,RSMo,isrepealedandonenewsectionenactedinlieu |
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| 11 | 11 | | 2thereof,tobeknownassection160.775,toreadasfollows: |
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| 12 | 12 | | 160.775.1.[EverydistrictshalladoptanantibullyingpolicybySeptember1,2007] |
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| 13 | 13 | | 2Thissectionshallbeknownandmaybecitedasthe"MissouriChildhoodHeroAct". |
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| 14 | 14 | | 3 2.Asusedinthissection,thefollowingtermsmean: |
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| 15 | 15 | | 4 (1)"Actofschoolviolence"or"violentbehavior",thesamemeaningasin |
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| 16 | 16 | | 5section160.261; |
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| 17 | 17 | | 6 (2)"Bullying"[means], intimidation,unwantedaggressivebehavior,orharassment |
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| 18 | 18 | | 7thatisrepetitiveorissubstantiallylikelytoberepeatedandcausesareasonablestudentto |
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| 19 | 19 | | 8fearforhisorherphysicalsafetyorproperty;substantiallyinterfereswiththeeducational |
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| 20 | 20 | | 9performance,opportunities,orbenefitsofanystudentwithoutexception;orsubstantially |
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| 21 | 21 | | 10disruptstheorderlyoperationoftheschool.Bullyingmayconsistofphysicalactions, |
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| 22 | 22 | | 11includinggestures,ororal,cyberbullying,electronic,orwrittencommunication,andany |
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| 23 | 23 | | 12threatofretaliationforreportingofsuchacts.Bullyingofstudentsisprohibitedonschool |
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| 24 | 24 | | 13property,atanyschoolfunction,oronaschoolbus[.]; |
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| 25 | 25 | | 14 (3)"Crime",anyofthecrimeslistedinsection160.261; |
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| 26 | 26 | | 15 (4)"Cyberbullying"[means], bullyingasdefinedinthissubsectionthroughthe |
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| 27 | 27 | | 16transmissionofacommunicationincluding,butnotlimitedto,amessage,text,sound,or |
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| 28 | 28 | | EXPLANATION—Matterenclosedinbold-facedbrackets[thus] intheabovebillisnotenactedandis |
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| 29 | 29 | | intendedtobeomittedfromthelaw.Matterinbold-facetypeintheabovebillisproposedlanguage. 17imagebymeansofanelectronicdeviceincluding,butnotlimitedto,atelephone,wireless |
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| 30 | 30 | | 18telephone,orotherwirelesscommunicationdevice,computer,orpager; |
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| 31 | 31 | | 19 (5)"Zero-tolerancedisciplinarypolicy",apolicyorpracticeofdisciplinethat |
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| 32 | 32 | | 20resultsinanautomaticdisciplinaryconsequencesuchassuspensionorexpulsionforany |
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| 33 | 33 | | 21studentwhocommitsoneormorelistedoffensesevenifadministratorshavesome |
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| 34 | 34 | | 22discretiontomodifytheconsequenceonacase-by-casebasis. |
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| 35 | 35 | | 23 3.Eachschooldistrict'sandcharterschool'santibullyingpolicyshallbefoundedon |
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| 36 | 36 | | 24theassumptionthatallstudentsneedasafelearningenvironment.Policiesshalltreatall |
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| 37 | 37 | | 25studentsequallyandshallnotcontainspecificlistsofprotectedclassesofstudentswhoareto |
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| 38 | 38 | | 26receivespecialtreatment.Policiesmayincludeage-appropriatedifferencesforschoolsbased |
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| 39 | 39 | | 27onthegradelevelsattheschool.Eachsuchpolicyshallcontainastatementofthe |
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| 40 | 40 | | 28consequencesofbullying. |
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| 41 | 41 | | 29 4.Eachschooldistrict'sandcharterschool'santibullyingpolicyshallbeincludedin |
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| 42 | 42 | | 30thestudenthandbookandshallrequire,ataminimum,thefollowingcomponents: |
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| 43 | 43 | | 31 (1)Astatementprohibitingbullying,definednolessinclusivelythaninsubsection2 |
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| 44 | 44 | | 32ofthissection; |
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| 45 | 45 | | 33 (2)Astatementrequiringschooldistrictorcharterschoolemployeestoreportany |
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| 46 | 46 | | 34instanceofbullyingofwhichtheemployeehasfirsthandknowledge.Thepolicyshallrequire |
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| 47 | 47 | | 35aschooldistrictorcharterschoolemployeewhowitnessesanincidentofbullyingtoreport |
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| 48 | 48 | | 36theincidenttotheschooldistrict'sorcharterschool'sdesignatedindividualattheschool |
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| 49 | 49 | | 37within[two]oneschool[days] dayoftheemployeewitnessingtheincident; |
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| 50 | 50 | | 38 (3)Astatementrelatingtovictimsofbullyingthattheschooldistrictorcharter |
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| 51 | 51 | | 39schoolprohibits,doesnothave,andwillnotadopt,innameorinpractice,azero- |
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| 52 | 52 | | 40tolerancedisciplinarypolicy; |
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| 53 | 53 | | 41 (4)Astatementrelatingtopupilswhoengageinself-defensethattheschool |
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| 54 | 54 | | 42districtorcharterschooladministration,whendeterminingdisciplinaryactionfora |
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| 55 | 55 | | 43pupilwhohascommittedanactofschoolviolenceorexhibitedviolentbehavior,will |
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| 56 | 56 | | 44takeintoaccountifsuchactofschoolviolenceorviolentbehaviorwascommittedinself- |
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| 57 | 57 | | 45defenseasanimmediateresponsetoanactofschoolviolenceorviolentbehavior |
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| 58 | 58 | | 46committedagainstsuchpupil; |
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| 59 | 59 | | 47 (5)Aprocedureforreportinganactofbullying.Thepolicyshallalsoincludea |
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| 60 | 60 | | 48statementrequiringthattheschooldistrictorcharterschooldesignateanindividualateach |
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| 61 | 61 | | 49schoolbuildinginthedistrictandcharterschooltoreceivereportsofincidentsofbullying. |
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| 62 | 62 | | 50Suchindividualshallbeaschooldistrictorcharterschoolemployeewhoisteacherlevel |
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| 63 | 63 | | 51stafforabove; |
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| 64 | 64 | | HB351 2 52 [(4)](6)Aprocedureforpromptinvestigationofreportsofviolationsandcomplaints, |
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| 65 | 65 | | 53identifyingoneormoreemployeesresponsiblefortheinvestigationincluding,ataminimum, |
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| 66 | 66 | | 54thefollowingrequirements: |
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| 67 | 67 | | 55 (a)Withintwoschooldaysofareportofanincidentofbullyingbeingreceived,the |
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| 68 | 68 | | 56schoolprincipal,orhisorherdesignee,shallinitiateaninvestigationoftheincidentand |
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| 69 | 69 | | 57ensurethatthereportisreducedtowriting; |
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| 70 | 70 | | 58 (b)Theschoolprincipalmayappointotherschoolstafftoassistwiththe |
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| 71 | 71 | | 59investigation;[and] |
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| 72 | 72 | | 60 (c)Theinvestigationshallbecompletedwithintenschooldaysfromthedate[ofthe |
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| 73 | 73 | | 61writtenreport] theinvestigationisinitiatedunderparagraph(a)ofthissubdivisionunless |
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| 74 | 74 | | 62goodcauseexiststoextendtheinvestigation;and |
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| 75 | 75 | | 63 (d)Awrittenreportshallbepreparedthatcontainstheresultsofthe |
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| 76 | 76 | | 64investigationandanyresponseincluding,butnotlimitedto,adescriptionofany |
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| 77 | 77 | | 65interventions,initiatives,techniques,ordisciplineprovidedtoallinvolvedindividualsof |
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| 78 | 78 | | 66theincident.Theschooldistrictorcharterschoolmaydevelopastandardizedformto |
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| 79 | 79 | | 67useforsuchwrittenreport; |
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| 80 | 80 | | 68 [(5)](7)Aprocedurefortheresponsetoanyinvestigationthatfindsanactof |
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| 81 | 81 | | 69bullyingoccurred.Thepolicyshall,ataminimum,requirenotificationoftheparentsof |
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| 82 | 82 | | 70thebullyingstudentand,ifsuchbullyingmeetstheelementsofharassmentinthe |
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| 83 | 83 | | 71seconddegreeundersection565.091,referraltolawenforcementagenciesortothe |
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| 84 | 84 | | 72children'sdivisionratherthanlawenforcementifthebullyingstudentisundereleven |
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| 85 | 85 | | 73yearsofage; |
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| 86 | 86 | | 74 (8)Astatementthatprohibitsreprisalorretaliationagainstanypersonwhoreportsan |
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| 87 | 87 | | 75actofbullyingandtheconsequenceandappropriateremedialactionforapersonwho |
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| 88 | 88 | | 76engagesinreprisalorretaliation; |
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| 89 | 89 | | 77 [(6)](9)Astatementofhowthepolicyistobepublicized;and |
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| 90 | 90 | | 78 [(7)](10)Aprocessfordiscussingthedistrict'santibullyingpolicywithstudentsand |
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| 91 | 91 | | 79trainingschoolemployeesandvolunteerswhohave[significant] contactwithstudentsinthe |
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| 92 | 92 | | 80requirementsofthepolicy,including,ataminimum,thefollowingstatements: |
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| 93 | 93 | | 81 (a)Theschooldistrictorcharterschoolshallprovideinformationandappropriate |
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| 94 | 94 | | 82trainingtotheschooldistrictorcharterschoolstaffwhohave[significant] contactwith |
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| 95 | 95 | | 83studentsregardingthepolicyincluding,butnotlimitedto,trainingontheappropriate |
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| 96 | 96 | | 84interventionsstaffmaytakeandtheassociatedliabilityforactionorinactionincluding, |
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| 97 | 97 | | 85butnotlimitedto,failuretoreportincidents; |
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| 98 | 98 | | 86 (b)Theschooldistrictorcharterschoolshallgiveannualnoticeofthepolicyto |
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| 99 | 99 | | 87students,parentsorguardians,andstaff; |
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| 100 | 100 | | HB351 3 88 (c)Theschooldistrictorcharterschoolshallprovideeducationandinformationto |
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| 101 | 101 | | 89studentsregardingbullying,includinginformationregardingtheschooldistrictorcharter |
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| 102 | 102 | | 90schoolpolicyprohibitingbullying,theharmfuleffectsofbullying,andotherapplicable |
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| 103 | 103 | | 91initiativestoaddressbullying,includingstudentpeer-to-peerinitiativestoprovide |
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| 104 | 104 | | 92accountabilityandpolicyenforcementforthosefoundtohaveengagedinbullying, |
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| 105 | 105 | | 93reprisal,orretaliationagainstanypersonwhoreportsanactofbullying; |
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| 106 | 106 | | 94 (d)Theadministrationoftheschooldistrictorcharterschoolshallinstructitsschool |
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| 107 | 107 | | 95counselors,schoolsocialworkers,licensedsocialworkers,mentalhealthprofessionals,and |
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| 108 | 108 | | 96schoolpsychologiststoeducatestudentswhoarevictimsofbullyingandstudents |
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| 109 | 109 | | 97committingactsofbullyingontechniquesforstudentstoovercomebullying'snegative |
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| 110 | 110 | | 98effects.Suchtechniquesshallinclude,butnotbelimitedto,cultivatingthestudent'sself- |
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| 111 | 111 | | 99worthandself-esteem;teachingthestudenttodefendhimselforherselfassertivelyand |
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| 112 | 112 | | 100effectively;helpingthestudentdevelopsocialskills;orencouragingthestudenttodevelopan |
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| 113 | 113 | | 101internallocusofcontrol.Theprovisionsofthisparagraphshallnotbeconstruedtocontradict |
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| 114 | 114 | | 102orlimitanyotherprovisionofthissection;and |
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| 115 | 115 | | 103 (e)Theadministrationoftheschooldistrictorcharterschoolshallimplement |
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| 116 | 116 | | 104programsandotherinitiativestoaddressbullying,torespondtosuchconductinamanner |
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| 117 | 117 | | 105thatdoesnotstigmatizethevictim,andtomakeresourcesorreferralsavailabletovictimsof |
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| 118 | 118 | | 106bullyingandstudentscommittingactsofbullying. |
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| 119 | 119 | | 107 5.Notwithstandinganyotherprovisionoflawtothecontrary,anyschooldistrictor |
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| 120 | 120 | | 108charterschoolshallhavejurisdictiontoprohibitcyberbullyingthatoriginatesonaschool's |
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| 121 | 121 | | 109campusoratadistrictactivityiftheelectroniccommunicationwasmadeusingtheschool's |
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| 122 | 122 | | 110technologicalresources,ifthereisasufficientnexustotheeducationalenvironment,orifthe |
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| 123 | 123 | | 111electroniccommunicationwasmadeontheschool'scampusorataschooldistrictorcharter |
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| 124 | 124 | | 112schoolactivityusingthestudent'sownpersonaltechnologicalresources.Theschooldistrict |
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| 125 | 125 | | 113orcharterschoolmaydisciplineanystudentforsuchcyberbullyingtothegreatestextent |
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| 126 | 126 | | 114allowedbylaw. |
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| 127 | 127 | | 115 6.Eachschooldistrictandcharterschoolshallreviewitsantibullyingpolicyand |
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| 128 | 128 | | 116reviseitasneeded.Theschooldistrict'sschoolboardorcharterschool'sgoverningboard |
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| 129 | 129 | | 117shallreceiveinputfromschoolpersonnel,students,andadministratorswhenreviewingand |
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| 130 | 130 | | 118revisingthepolicy. |
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| 131 | 131 | | 119 7.(1)Theadministrationofeachschooldistrictandcharterschoolshallreport |
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| 132 | 132 | | 120totheschoolboardorgoverningboardallactsofbullying,actsofschoolviolenceor |
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| 133 | 133 | | 121violentbehavior,andcrimesthatoccurredinbetweenboardmeetingsandthediscipline |
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| 134 | 134 | | 122ofanypupilwhocommittedsuchacts.Suchreportshallbesubmittedmonthlyand |
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| 135 | 135 | | 123shallbeformattedtoclearlydescribeeachsuchincident. |
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| 136 | 136 | | HB351 4 124 (2)Theschoolboardorgoverningboardshallreviewsuchmonthlyreportina |
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| 137 | 137 | | 125closedmeetingunderchapter610.Discrepanciesinsuchreportshallberesolvedwithin |
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| 138 | 138 | | 126thirtydaysofthereviewandtheboard,inconjunctionwiththeschooladministration, |
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| 139 | 139 | | 127shallattempttoaddressandresolvesubstantiatedconcernsrelatingtoincidentslisted |
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| 140 | 140 | | 128onsuchreport,asconcernsareexpressedduringsuchmonthlyreviewbyschool |
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| 141 | 141 | | 129administrationorschoolboardorgoverningboardmembers. |
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| 142 | 142 | | 130 8.(1)Aschooldistrictorcharterschoolemployeeorvolunteermay,inthe |
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| 143 | 143 | | 131courseoffulfillingdutiesorperformingservicesforsuchschooldistrictorcharter |
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| 144 | 144 | | 132school,interveneinanincidentinvolvinganactofbullying,actofschoolviolenceor |
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| 145 | 145 | | 133violentbehavior,orcrimecommittedagainstapupiltoprotectsuchpupil. |
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| 146 | 146 | | 134 (2)Suchschooldistrictorcharterschoolemployeeorvolunteershallbeheld |
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| 147 | 147 | | 135harmlessandimmunefromanyliabilityforactionsdescribedinsubdivision(1)ofthis |
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| 148 | 148 | | 136subsectionif: |
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| 149 | 149 | | 137 (a)Inthecourseofinterveninginsuchincident,suchemployeeorvolunteer |
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| 150 | 150 | | 138followsaproperprocedureforsuchinterventionsadoptedbytheschoolboardofsuch |
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| 151 | 151 | | 139schooldistrictorthecharterschool'sgoverningboard;or |
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| 152 | 152 | | 140 (b)Suchemployeeorvolunteerintervenesingoodfaithandinamannerthat |
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| 153 | 153 | | 141suchemployeeorvolunteerreasonablybelievesisaffordedthedefenseofjustification |
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| 154 | 154 | | 142underchapter563. |
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| 155 | 155 | | 143 9.(1)Aschooldistrictorcharterschool,oranemployeeofsuchdistrictor |
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| 156 | 156 | | 144charterschool,thatingoodfaithimposesdisciplinaryactionunderthissectionupona |
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| 157 | 157 | | 145bullyingstudentshallnotbecivillyliableforsuchdisciplinaryaction. |
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| 158 | 158 | | 146 (2)Ifaschooldistrictorcharterschool,oranemployeeofsuchdistrictor |
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| 159 | 159 | | 147charterschool,prevailsinanactionbroughtagainstsuchschooldistrict,charterschool, |
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| 160 | 160 | | 148oremployeedescribedinsubdivision(1)ofthissubsection,thecourtshallawardcourt |
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| 161 | 161 | | 149costsandattorney'sfeestosuchprevailingschooldistrict,charterschool,oremployee. |
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| 162 | 162 | | 150 10.(1)Thissectionshallnotbeconstruedtoprovideimmunityfromliabilityfor |
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| 163 | 163 | | 151aschooldistrict'sorcharterschool'sdenial,orthedenialbyanemployeeofsuch |
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| 164 | 164 | | 152districtorcharterschool,ofanyconstitutionallyprotectedrightofastudent. |
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| 165 | 165 | | 153 (2)Subdivision(1)ofthissubsectionshallnotbeconstruedtolimitany |
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| 166 | 166 | | 154immunitiesordefensesavailableunderstateorfederallawtoaschooldistrict,acharter |
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| 167 | 167 | | 155school,oremployeesorvolunteersofsuchschooldistrictorcharterschool. |
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| 168 | 168 | | 156 11.(1)Forthepurposesofreportingrequirementsundersection210.115, |
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| 169 | 169 | | 157incidentsofbullying,actsofschoolviolenceorviolentbehavior,orcrimemaybe |
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| 170 | 170 | | 158consideredabuse. |
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| 171 | 171 | | 159 (2)Iftwoormoreemployeesorvolunteerswhoarerequiredtoreportjointly |
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| 172 | 172 | | 160haveknowledgeofaknownorsuspectedinstanceofchildabuse,asinglereportmaybe |
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| 173 | 173 | | HB351 5 161madebytheschooldistrict'sorcharterschool'sdesignatedmember.Anyindividual |
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| 174 | 174 | | 162whohasknowledgethattheindividualdesignatedtoreporthasfailedtodososhall |
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| 175 | 175 | | 163thereafterimmediatelymakethereport.Noprovisionofthissectionshallbeconstrued |
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| 176 | 176 | | 164toprecludeanypersonfromreportingsuchabuseandsuchpersonshallbeaffordedthe |
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| 177 | 177 | | 165sameprotectionsprovidedundersections210.135and210.145forreportsofabusein |
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| 178 | 178 | | 166compliancewithsection210.115. |
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| 179 | 179 | | 167 12.Nocharterschoolshallexpelortransferastudenttoaschooldistrictsolely |
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| 180 | 180 | | 168duetoreportsofbullyingmadeagainstsuchstudent. |
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| 181 | 181 | | âś” |
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| 182 | 182 | | HB351 6 |
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