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S.B. 243

             1     

BULLYING AND HAZING AMENDMENTS

             2     
2013 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Luz Robles

             5     
House Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies provisions regarding bullying and hazing of school employees and
             10      students.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    amends the definitions of bullying and hazing;
             14          .    requires a local school board or charter school governing board to update the school
             15      board's policies regarding bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, and retaliation by
             16      September 1, 2013; and
             17          .    makes technical and conforming amendments.
             18      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             19          None
             20      Other Special Clauses:
             21          None
             22      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             23      AMENDS:
             24          53A-11a-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 235
             25          53A-11a-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 235
             26          53A-11a-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 235
             27          53A-11a-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 235


             28          53A-11a-302, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 235
             29          53A-11a-401, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 235
             30          53A-11a-402, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2011, Chapter 235
             31     
             32      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             33          Section 1. Section 53A-11a-102 is amended to read:
             34           53A-11a-102. Definitions.
             35          [As used in this chapter:]
             36          [(1) (a) "Bullying" means intentionally or knowingly committing an act that:]
             37          [(i) (A) endangers the physical health or safety of a school employee or student;]
             38          [(B) involves any brutality of a physical nature such as whipping, beating, branding,
             39      calisthenics, bruising, electric shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or
             40      exposure to the elements;]
             41          [(C) involves consumption of any food, liquor, drug, or other substance;]
             42          [(D) involves other physical activity that endangers the physical health and safety of a
             43      school employee or student; or]
             44          [(E) involves physically obstructing a school employee's or student's freedom to move;
             45      and]
             46          [(ii) is done for the purpose of placing a school employee or student in fear of:]
             47          [(A) physical harm to the school employee or student; or]
             48          [(B) harm to property of the school employee or student.]
             49          [(b) The conduct described in Subsection (1)(a) constitutes bullying, regardless of
             50      whether the person against whom the conduct is committed directed, consented to, or
             51      acquiesced in, the conduct.]
             52          (1) "Bullying" means intentionally committing a written, verbal, or physical act against
             53      another school employee or student that a reasonable person under the circumstances should
             54      know will have the effect of:
             55          (a) causing physical or emotional harm to the school employee or student or damage to
             56      the school employee's or student's property;
             57          (b) placing the school employee or student in reasonable fear of:
             58          (i) harm to the school employee's or student's physical or emotional well-being; or


             59          (ii) damage to the school employee's or student's property;
             60          (c) creating a hostile, threatening, humiliating, or abusive educational environment due
             61      to:
             62          (i) the pervasiveness or persistence of actions; or
             63          (ii) a power differential between the bully and the target; or
             64          (d) interfering with a student having a safe school environment that is necessary to
             65      facilitate educational performance, opportunities, or benefits.
             66          (2) "Communication" means the conveyance of a message, whether verbal, written, or
             67      electronic.
             68          (3) "Cyber-bullying" means using the Internet, a cell phone, or another device to send
             69      or post text, video, or an image with the intent or knowledge, or with reckless disregard, that
             70      the text, video, or image will hurt, embarrass, or threaten an individual, regardless of whether
             71      the individual directed, consented to, or acquiesced in the conduct, or voluntarily accessed the
             72      electronic communication.
             73          [(4) "Harassment" means repeatedly communicating to another individual, in an
             74      objectively demeaning or disparaging manner, statements that contribute to a hostile learning
             75      or work environment for the individual.]
             76          [(5)] (4) (a) "Hazing" means intentionally [or], knowingly, or recklessly committing an
             77      act or causing another person to commit an act that:
             78          (i) (A) endangers the mental or physical health or safety of a school employee or
             79      student;
             80          (B) involves any brutality of a physical nature such as whipping, beating, branding,
             81      calisthenics, bruising, electric shocking, placing of a harmful substance on the body, or
             82      exposure to the elements;
             83          (C) involves consumption of any food, [liquor] alcoholic product, drug, or other
             84      substance[; (D) involves] or other physical activity that endangers the physical health and
             85      safety of a school employee or student; or
             86          [(E)] (D) involves [physically obstructing a school employee's or student's freedom to
             87      move] any activity that would subject the individual to extreme mental stress, such as sleep
             88      deprivation, extended isolation from social contact, or conduct that subjects another to extreme
             89      embarrassment, shame, or humiliation; and


             90          (ii) (A) is done for the purpose of initiation [or], admission into, affiliation with,
             91      holding office in, or as a condition for[,] membership [or acceptance, or continued membership
             92      or acceptance,] in any school or school sponsored team, organization, program, or event; or
             93          (B) if the person committing the act against a school employee or student knew that the
             94      school employee or student is a member of, or candidate for, membership with a school, or
             95      school sponsored team, organization, program, or event to which the person committing the act
             96      belongs to or participates in.
             97          (b) The conduct described in Subsection [(5)] (4)(a) constitutes hazing, regardless of
             98      whether the person against whom the conduct is committed directed, consented to, or
             99      acquiesced in, the conduct.
             100          [(6)] (5) "Policy" means a bullying and hazing policy described in Section
             101      53A-11a-301 .
             102          [(7)] (6) "Retaliate" means an act or communication intended:
             103          (a) as retribution against a person for reporting bullying or hazing; or
             104          (b) to improperly influence the investigation of, or the response to, a report of bullying
             105      or hazing.
             106          [(8)] (7) "School" means any public elementary or secondary school or charter school.
             107          [(9)] (8) "School board" means:
             108          (a) a local school board; or
             109          (b) a local charter board.
             110          [(10)] (9) "School employee" means:
             111          (a) school teachers;
             112          (b) school staff;
             113          (c) school administrators; and
             114          (d) all others employed, directly or indirectly, by the school, school board, or school
             115      district.
             116          Section 2. Section 53A-11a-201 is amended to read:
             117           53A-11a-201. Bullying, cyber-bullying, and hazing prohibited.
             118          (1) No school employee or student may engage in bullying [or harassing] a school
             119      employee or student:
             120          (a) on school property;


             121          (b) at a school related or sponsored event;
             122          (c) on a school bus;
             123          (d) at a school bus stop; or
             124          (e) while the school employee or student is traveling to or from a location or event
             125      described in Subsections (1)(a) through (d).
             126          (2) No school employee or student may engage in hazing or cyber-bullying a school
             127      employee or student at any time or in any location.
             128          Section 3. Section 53A-11a-202 is amended to read:
             129           53A-11a-202. Retaliation and making false allegation prohibited.
             130          (1) No school employee or student may engage in retaliation against:
             131          (a) a school employee;
             132          (b) a student; or
             133          (c) an investigator for, or a witness of, an alleged incident of bullying, cyber-bullying,
             134      [harassment,] hazing, or retaliation.
             135          (2) No school employee or student may make a false allegation of bullying,
             136      cyber-bullying, [harassment,] hazing, or retaliation against a school employee or student.
             137          Section 4. Section 53A-11a-301 is amended to read:
             138           53A-11a-301. Bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, and retaliation policy.
             139          (1) On or before September 1, [2012] 2013, each school board shall [adopt a] update
             140      the school board's bullying, cyber-bullying, [harassment, and] hazing, and retaliation policy
             141      consistent with this chapter.
             142          (2) The policy shall:
             143          (a) be developed only with input from:
             144          (i) students;
             145          (ii) parents;
             146          (iii) teachers;
             147          (iv) school administrators;
             148          (v) school staff; or
             149          (vi) local law enforcement agencies; and
             150          (b) provide protection to a student, regardless of the student's legal status.
             151          (3) The policy shall include the following components:


             152          (a) definitions of bullying, cyber-bullying, [harassment,] and hazing that are consistent
             153      with this chapter;
             154          (b) language prohibiting bullying, cyber-bullying, [harassment,] and hazing;
             155          (c) language prohibiting retaliation against an individual who reports conduct that is
             156      prohibited under this chapter; and
             157          (d) language prohibiting making a false report of bullying, cyber-bullying,
             158      [harassment,] hazing, or retaliation.
             159          (4) A copy of the policy shall be included in student conduct handbooks and employee
             160      handbooks.
             161          (5) A policy may not permit formal disciplinary action that is based solely on an
             162      anonymous report of bullying, cyber-bullying, [harassment,] hazing, or retaliation.
             163          (6) Nothing in this chapter is intended to infringe upon the right of a school employee
             164      or student to exercise their right of free speech.
             165          Section 5. Section 53A-11a-302 is amended to read:
             166           53A-11a-302. Model policy and State Board of Education duties.
             167          On or before September 1, [2011] 2013, the State Board of Education shall:
             168          (1) develop [a] an updated model policy on bullying, cyber-bullying, [harassment,]
             169      hazing, and retaliation; and
             170          (2) post the model policy described in Subsection (1) on the State Board of Education's
             171      website.
             172          Section 6. Section 53A-11a-401 is amended to read:
             173           53A-11a-401. Training, education, and prevention.
             174          (1) A school board shall include in the training of a school employee, training
             175      regarding bullying, cyber-bullying, [harassment,] hazing, and retaliation.
             176          (2) To the extent that state or federal funding is available for this purpose, school
             177      boards are encouraged to implement programs or initiatives, in addition to the training
             178      described in Subsection (1), to provide for training and education regarding, and the prevention
             179      of, bullying, hazing, and retaliation.
             180          (3) The programs or initiatives described in Subsection (2) may involve:
             181          (a) the establishment of a bullying task force; or
             182          (b) the involvement of school employees, students, or law enforcement.


             183          Section 7. Section 53A-11a-402 is amended to read:
             184           53A-11a-402. Other forms of legal redress.
             185          (1) Nothing in this chapter prohibits a victim of bullying, cyber-bullying, [harassment,]
             186      hazing, or retaliation from seeking legal redress under any other provisions of civil or criminal
             187      law.
             188          (2) This section does not create or alter tort liability.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-22-13 4:46 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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