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S.B. 304

             1     

PREVENTING BULLYING AND HAZING IN ELEMENTARY

             2     
AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS

             3     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Ralph Okerlund

             6     
House Sponsor: Bill Wright

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies Title 53A, Chapter 11a, Bullying and Hazing, by making legislative
             11      findings, amending definitions, requiring implementation with anti-bullying and hazing
             12      policies, and requiring reporting of incidents of bullying or other conduct to the State
             13      Board of Education.
             14      Highlighted Provisions:
             15          This bill:
             16          .    defines terms;
             17          .    prohibits students and school employees from engaging in:
             18              .    bullying;
             19              .    cyber-bullying;
             20              .    harassment;
             21              .    hazing;
             22              .    retaliation; and
             23              .    making false claims regarding the aforementioned conduct;
             24          .    requires schools, local school districts, and the State Board of Education to
             25      implement anti-bullying and hazing policies; and
             26          .    makes technical changes.
             27      Money Appropriated in this Bill:


             28          None
             29      Other Special Clauses:
             30          None
             31      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             32      AMENDS:
             33          53A-11a-102, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 197
             34          53A-11a-201, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 197
             35          53A-11a-202, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 197
             36          53A-11a-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 218
             37          53A-11a-302, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 197
             38          53A-11a-401, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 197
             39          53A-11a-402, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 197
             40     
             41      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             42          Section 1. Section 53A-11a-102 is amended to read:
             43           53A-11a-102. Definitions.
             44          As used in this [part] chapter:
             45          (1) (a) "Bullying" means intentionally or knowingly committing an act that:
             46          (i) (A) endangers the physical health or safety of a school employee or student;
             47          (B) involves any brutality of a physical nature such as whipping, beating, branding,
             48      calisthenics, bruising, electric shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or
             49      exposure to the elements;
             50          (C) involves consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance;
             51          (D) involves other physical activity that endangers the physical health and safety of a
             52      school employee or student; or
             53          (E) involves physically obstructing a school employee's or student's freedom to move;
             54      and
             55          (ii) is done for the purpose of placing a school employee or student in fear of:
             56          (A) physical harm to the school employee or student; or
             57          (B) harm to property of the school employee or student.
             58          (b) The conduct described in Subsection (1)(a) constitutes bullying, regardless of


             59      whether the person against whom the conduct is committed directed, consented to, or
             60      acquiesced in, the conduct.
             61          (2) "Communication" means the conveyance of a message, whether verbal, written, or
             62      electronic.
             63          (3) "Cyber-bullying" means using the Internet, a cell phone, or another device to send
             64      or post text, video, or an image with the intent or knowledge, or with reckless disregard, that
             65      the text, video, or image will hurt, embarrass, or threaten an individual, regardless of whether
             66      the individual directed, consented to, or acquiesced in the conduct, or voluntarily accessed the
             67      electronic communication.
             68          (4) "Harassment" means repeatedly communicating to another individual, in an
             69      objectively demeaning or disparaging manner, statements that contribute to a hostile learning
             70      or work environment for the individual.
             71          [(2)] (5) (a) "Hazing" means intentionally or knowingly committing an act that:
             72          (i) (A) endangers the physical health or safety of a school employee or student;
             73          (B) involves any brutality of a physical nature such as whipping, beating, branding,
             74      calisthenics, bruising, electric shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or
             75      exposure to the elements;
             76          (C) involves consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance;
             77          (D) involves other physical activity that endangers the physical health and safety of a
             78      school employee or student; or
             79          (E) involves physically obstructing a school employee's or student's freedom to move;
             80      and
             81          (ii) (A) is done for the purpose of initiation or admission into, affiliation with, holding
             82      office in, or as a condition for, membership or acceptance, or continued membership or
             83      acceptance, in any school or school sponsored team, organization, program, or event; or
             84          (B) if the person committing the act against a school employee or student knew that the
             85      school employee or student is a member of, or candidate for, membership with a school, or
             86      school sponsored team, organization, program, or event to which the person committing the act
             87      belongs to or participates in.
             88          (b) The conduct described in Subsection [(2)] (5)(a) constitutes hazing, regardless of
             89      whether the person against whom the conduct is committed directed, consented to, or


             90      acquiesced in, the conduct.
             91          [(3)] (6) "Policy" means a bullying and hazing policy described in Section
             92      53A-11a-301 .
             93          [(4)] (7) "Retaliate" means an act or communication intended:
             94          (a) as retribution against a person for reporting bullying or hazing; or
             95          (b) to improperly influence the investigation of, or the response to, a report of bullying
             96      or hazing.
             97          [(5)] (8) "School" means any public elementary or secondary school or charter school.
             98          [(6)] (9) "School board" means:
             99          (a) a local school board; or
             100          (b) a local charter board.
             101          [(7)] (10) "School employee" means:
             102          (a) school teachers;
             103          (b) school staff;
             104          (c) school administrators; and
             105          (d) all others employed, directly or indirectly, by the school, school board, or school
             106      district.
             107          Section 2. Section 53A-11a-201 is amended to read:
             108           53A-11a-201. Bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, hazing, sexual battery, and
             109      sexual exposure prohibited.
             110          (1) No school employee or student may engage in bullying or harassing a school
             111      employee or student:
             112          (a) on school property;
             113          (b) at a school related or sponsored event;
             114          (c) on a school bus;
             115          (d) at a school bus stop; or
             116          (e) while the school employee or student is traveling to or from a location or event
             117      described in Subsections (1)(a) through (d).
             118          (2) No school employee or student may engage in hazing or cyber-bullying a school
             119      employee or student at any time or in any location.
             120          Section 3. Section 53A-11a-202 is amended to read:


             121           53A-11a-202. Retaliation and making false allegation prohibited.
             122          (1) No school employee or student may engage in retaliation against:
             123          (a) a school employee;
             124          (b) a student; or
             125          (c) an investigator for, or a witness of, an alleged incident of bullying, cyber-bullying,
             126      harassment, hazing, or retaliation.
             127          (2) No school employee or student may make a false allegation of bullying,
             128      cyber-bullying, harassment, hazing, or retaliation against a school employee or student.
             129          Section 4. Section 53A-11a-301 is amended to read:
             130           53A-11a-301. Bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, hazing, and retaliation
             131      policy.
             132          [(1) On or before September 1, 2009, each school board shall adopt a bullying and
             133      hazing policy.]
             134          (1) On or before September 1, 2012, each school board shall adopt a bullying,
             135      cyber-bullying, harassment, and hazing policy consistent with this chapter.
             136          (2) The policy shall:
             137          (a) be developed only with input from:
             138          (i) students;
             139          (ii) parents;
             140          (iii) teachers;
             141          (iv) school administrators;
             142          (v) school staff; or
             143          (vi) local law enforcement agencies; and
             144          [(b) be implemented in an ongoing, consistent, and nondiscriminatory manner;]
             145          [(c) be integrated with existing school discipline policies and violence prevention
             146      efforts; and]
             147          [(d)] (b) provide protection to a student, regardless of the student's legal status.
             148          (3) The policy shall include the following components:
             149          (a) definitions of bullying [and hazing that, at a minimum, include the conduct
             150      described in the definitions of bullying and hazing under Section 53A-11a-102 ],
             151      cyber-bullying, harassment, and hazing that are consistent with this chapter;


             152          [(b) the prohibitions described in Part 2, Prohibitions;]
             153          [(c) a description of the action that may be taken, and consequences or penalties that
             154      may be imposed, for engaging in prohibited bullying, hazing, or retaliation against a school
             155      employee or student for reporting bullying or hazing, which shall include:]
             156          [(i) suspension; or]
             157          [(ii) dissolution of a team, organization, or other group;]
             158          [(d) procedures for protecting:]
             159          [(i) a victim of bullying or hazing from being subjected to further bullying or hazing;
             160      and]
             161          [(ii) a school employee or student from retaliation for reporting bullying or hazing;]
             162          [(e) procedures for promptly reporting to law enforcement all acts of bullying, hazing,
             163      or retaliation that constitute criminal activity;]
             164          [(f) procedures for promptly investigating and responding to reports of bullying,
             165      hazing, or retaliation;]
             166          [(g) procedures allowing for anonymous reporting of bullying, hazing, or retaliation;]
             167          [(h) specification of the persons responsible for taking, investigating, and responding to
             168      reports of bullying, hazing, or retaliation;]
             169          [(i) a procedure for referring a victim of bullying or hazing to counseling;]
             170          [(j) involving the parents or guardians of a perpetrator or victim of bullying, hazing, or
             171      retaliation in the process of responding to, and resolving, conduct prohibited by this chapter;]
             172          [(k) to the extent permitted by federal and state law, including the federal Family
             173      Educational and Privacy Rights Act of 1974, as amended, a procedure informing the parents or
             174      guardians of a student who is a victim of bullying or hazing of the actions taken against the
             175      perpetrators of the bullying or hazing;]
             176          [(l) procedures and plans for publicizing the policy to school employees, students, and
             177      parents and guardians of students; and]
             178          [(m) procedures and plans for training school employees and students in recognizing
             179      and preventing bullying, hazing, or retaliation.]
             180          (b) language prohibiting bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, and hazing;
             181          (c) language prohibiting retaliation against an individual who reports conduct that is
             182      prohibited under this chapter; and


             183          (d) language prohibiting making a false report of bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment,
             184      hazing, or retaliation.
             185          (4) A copy of the policy shall be included in student conduct handbooks and employee
             186      handbooks.
             187          (5) A policy may not permit formal disciplinary action that is based solely on an
             188      anonymous report of bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, hazing, or retaliation.
             189          (6) Nothing in this chapter is intended to infringe upon the right of a school employee
             190      or student to exercise their right of free speech.
             191          Section 5. Section 53A-11a-302 is amended to read:
             192           53A-11a-302. Model policy and State Board of Education duties.
             193          On or before September 1, [2008] 2011, the State Board of Education shall:
             194          (1) develop a model policy on bullying, [hazing, and retaliation, consistent with
             195      Section 53A-11a-301 , in order to assist a school board in adopting a policy under Section
             196      53A-11a-301 ; and] cyber-bullying, harassment, hazing, and retaliation; and
             197          (2) post the model policy described in Subsection (1) on the State Board of Education's
             198      website.
             199          Section 6. Section 53A-11a-401 is amended to read:
             200           53A-11a-401. Training, education, and prevention.
             201          (1) A school board shall include in the training of a school employee, training
             202      regarding bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment, hazing, and retaliation.
             203          (2) To the extent that state or federal funding is available for this purpose, school
             204      boards are encouraged to implement programs or initiatives, in addition to the training
             205      described in Subsection (1), to provide for training and education regarding, and the prevention
             206      of, bullying, hazing, and retaliation.
             207          (3) The programs or initiatives described in Subsection (2) may involve:
             208          (a) the establishment of a bullying task force; or
             209          (b) the involvement of school employees, students, or law enforcement.
             210          Section 7. Section 53A-11a-402 is amended to read:
             211           53A-11a-402. Other forms of legal redress.
             212          (1) Nothing in this chapter prohibits a victim of bullying, cyber-bullying, harassment,
             213      hazing, or retaliation from seeking legal redress under any other provisions of civil or criminal


             214      law.
             215          (2) This section does not create or alter tort liability.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 3-1-11 8:50 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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