Georgia S.B. 250

Georgia S.B. 250

Anti-Bullying and Disrupting Public School

Amends definition of "bullying" to include cyberbullying and acts committed at school-related locations such as school grounds, school bus stops, school vehicles and school-sponsored activities. Expands defintion to include any intentional written, verbal or physical act that a reasonable person would perceive as being intended to threaten, harass or intimidate, and that meets any of specified criteria. Existing statute required local boards to establish policies that apply to students in grades 6-12; new provision requires local boards, by August 2011, to adopt policies that apply in all schools in the school system. Requires local policies to provide for determination of bullying by the disciplinary hearing officer, panel or tribunal of school officials; also requires local policies to include a method to notify a parent that his/her child has committed an act of bullying or is a bullying victim. By January 2011, directs the department of education to develop a model anti-bullying policy, to be posted to the department Web site; identifies components the model policy must include. Requires the department to post to its Web site a list of entities providing antibullying training programs and materials deemed appropriate for use in local school systems. Provides civil immunity for any individual who in good faith reports an incident of bullying. Provides that nothing in legislation or the department of education model policy requires a local board to provide transportation to a student transferred to another school as a result of a bullying incident.

Provides that knowledge, intention or recklessness must be an element of any offense of disruption or interference with the operation of any public school, public school bus or public school bus stop. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb250.pdf

Source:
www.legis.state.ga.us

Status: Signed into law Status Date: 05/27/2010

Georgia S.B. 250
Anti-Bullying and Disrupting Public School
Amends definition of "bullying" to include cyberbullying and acts committed at school-related locations such as school grounds, school bus stops, school vehicles and school-sponsored activities. Expands defintion to include any intentional written, verbal or physical act that a reasonable person would perceive as being intended to threaten, harass or intimidate, and that meets any of specified criteria. Existing statute required local boards to establish policies that apply to students in grades 6-12; new provision requires local boards, by August 2011, to adopt policies that apply in all schools in the school system. Requires local policies to provide for determination of bullying by the disciplinary hearing officer, panel or tribunal of school officials; also requires local policies to include a method to notify a parent that his/her child has committed an act of bullying or is a bullying victim. By January 2011, directs the department of education to develop a model anti-bullying policy, to be posted to the department Web site; identifies components the model policy must include. Requires the department to post to its Web site a list of entities providing antibullying training programs and materials deemed appropriate for use in local school systems. Provides civil immunity for any individual who in good faith reports an incident of bullying. Provides that nothing in legislation or the department of education model policy requires a local board to provide transportation to a student transferred to another school as a result of a bullying incident. Provides that knowledge, intention or recklessness must be an element of any offense of disruption or interference with the operation of any public school, public school bus or public school bus stop. http://www.legis.state.ga.us/legis/2009_10/pdf/sb250.pdf
Source: www.legis.state.ga.us
Status: Signed into law	Status Date: 05/27/2010