5/1/2024Amended by Chapter 21, 2024 General Session2024Bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation policy.An LEA governing board shall adopt a bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation policy.The LEA governing board shall:develop the policy with input from:students;parents;teachers;school administrators;school staff; orlocal law enforcement agencies; andprovide protection to a student, regardless of the student's legal status.The LEA governing board shall include the following components in the policy:definitions of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation that are consistent with this part;language prohibiting bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, and abusive conduct;language prohibiting retaliation as described in Section 53G-9-603;language prohibiting making a false report of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, or retaliation;language outlining appropriate punishments for a student who shares a recording of an act of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation in order to impact or encourage future incidents;as required in Section 53G-9-604, a process for parental notification of:a student's threat of suicide; an incident involving the parent's student; andimplementation of the school's action plan to address the incident;a grievance process for a school employee who has experienced abusive conduct; a requirement that the school or LEA create and implement an action plan for each incident in accordance with Section 53G-9-605.5;a communication process requiring the school or LEA regularly updates each parent of a student involved in an incident regarding implementation of an action plan, including:the outcome of the school's or LEA's investigation;a discussion of safety considerations for the student who is the subject of the incident; andan explanation of the school's or LEA's process for addressing the incident; anda requirement for a signed statement annually, indicating that the individual signing the statement has received the LEA governing board's policy, from each:school employee;student who is at least eight years old; andparent of a student enrolled in the LEA.An LEA shall, in relation to the policy described in this section:include a copy in student conduct handbooks;include a copy in employee handbooks; andprovide a copy to a parent of a student enrolled in the charter school or school district.A policy may not permit formal disciplinary action that is based solely on an anonymous report of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, or retaliation.Nothing in this part is intended to infringe upon the right of a school employee, parent, or student to exercise the right of free speech.