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