New York S.B. 7740

New York S.B. 7740

Anti-Bullying

Provides legislative findings and intent. Extends provisions of Dignity for All Students Act to include explicit references to bullying and cyberbullying (provisions previously only cited "harassment"). Extends definition of acts that constitute bullying, including to encompass certain acts that take place off school property. Creates definition of "cyberbullying." Requires local anti-bullying policies to (1) identify administrator or designee as employee charged with receiving reports of bullying; (2) enable parents and students to make oral or written reports to any of specified school staff; (3) require school staff who witness or receive reports of bullying to report such incidents within a day to the designated employee; (4) require all reports to be thoroughly investigated promptly upon receipt of a report of bullying; (5) requires the school, when bullying is verified by an investigation, to take action to prevent recurrence of the event; (6) prohibit retaliation against reporters and those assisting in investigations of alleged bullying incidents; (7) include a school strategy to prevent harassment, bullying, and intimidation; (8) require the principal to regularly report data and trends on bullying to the local superintendent; (9) require an administrator to promptly contact local law enforcement if bullying action is believed to constitute criminal conduct; (10) provide all district employees, students and parents with copies of the district anti-bullying policy at least once each school year, including the notification process for a suspected bullying incident; (11) maintain current versions of the district's anti-bullying policy on the district website.

Additionally requires district policies, procedures and guidelines to include (1) guidelines to make employees aware of the effects of harassment, bullying, cyberbullying, and discrimination; (2) guidelines regarding age-appropriate responses and progressive remedies and procedures making appropriate use of intervention, discipline, and education, that take the student's developmental age into consideration and student's history of problem behavior; (3) training that addresses (a) the social patterns of harassment, bullying and discrimination, including actions based on a person's real or perceived characteristics, (b) identification and mitigation of harassment, bullying and discrimination, and (c) strategies for addressing exclusion and bias in educational settings. Establishes duties of the commissioner of education, including to require certain candidates for licensure to have completed training on specified aspects of bullying prevention and intervention, and providing guidance and educational materials to districts related to best practices in addressing cyberbullying. Extends immunity to those reporting or participating in specified proceedings in good faith. Requires K-12 citizenship and character education to include an emphasis on discouraging acts of harassment, bullying, discrimination, and to include instruction on safe, responsible use of the Internet and electronic communications. Provides these provisions take effect July 1, 2013.
http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=S07740&term=2011&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y

Source:
assembly.state.ny.us

Status: Signed into law Status Date: 07/09/2012

New York S.B. 7740
Anti-Bullying
Provides legislative findings and intent. Extends provisions of Dignity for All Students Act to include explicit references to bullying and cyberbullying (provisions previously only cited "harassment"). Extends definition of acts that constitute bullying, including to encompass certain acts that take place off school property. Creates definition of "cyberbullying." Requires local anti-bullying policies to (1) identify administrator or designee as employee charged with receiving reports of bullying; (2) enable parents and students to make oral or written reports to any of specified school staff; (3) require school staff who witness or receive reports of bullying to report such incidents within a day to the designated employee; (4) require all reports to be thoroughly investigated promptly upon receipt of a report of bullying; (5) requires the school, when bullying is verified by an investigation, to take action to prevent recurrence of the event; (6) prohibit retaliation against reporters and those assisting in investigations of alleged bullying incidents; (7) include a school strategy to prevent harassment, bullying, and intimidation; (8) require the principal to regularly report data and trends on bullying to the local superintendent; (9) require an administrator to promptly contact local law enforcement if bullying action is believed to constitute criminal conduct; (10) provide all district employees, students and parents with copies of the district anti-bullying policy at least once each school year, including the notification process for a suspected bullying incident; (11) maintain current versions of the district's anti-bullying policy on the district website. Additionally requires district policies, procedures and guidelines to include (1) guidelines to make employees aware of the effects of harassment, bullying, cyberbullying, and discrimination; (2) guidelines regarding age-appropriate responses and progressive remedies and procedures making appropriate use of intervention, discipline, and education, that take the student's developmental age into consideration and student's history of problem behavior; (3) training that addresses (a) the social patterns of harassment, bullying and discrimination, including actions based on a person's real or perceived characteristics, (b) identification and mitigation of harassment, bullying and discrimination, and (c) strategies for addressing exclusion and bias in educational settings. Establishes duties of the commissioner of education, including to require certain candidates for licensure to have completed training on specified aspects of bullying prevention and intervention, and providing guidance and educational materials to districts related to best practices in addressing cyberbullying. Extends immunity to those reporting or participating in specified proceedings in good faith. Requires K-12 citizenship and character education to include an emphasis on discouraging acts of harassment, bullying, discrimination, and to include instruction on safe, responsible use of the Internet and electronic communications. Provides these provisions take effect July 1, 2013. http://assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?default_fld=&bn=S07740&term=2011&Summary=Y&Actions=Y&Text=Y
Source: assembly.state.ny.us
Status: Signed into law	Status Date: 07/09/2012