The proposed Bill No. 980 aims to enhance safety on college campuses by mandating institutions of higher education to implement specific measures addressing hate and harassment incidents. Key provisions include requiring training for all administrators, faculty, and staff on how to respond to such incidents, establishing a procedure for investigating student complaints related to racial, religious, or ethnic bias, and creating a campus task force dedicated to combating hatred and violence based on religious identity. Additionally, the bill calls for partnerships between campus police and local law enforcement to support student groups at risk of hate crimes and mandates reporting to the General Assembly on the complaints and investigations conducted.

The bill introduces new legal language that emphasizes the importance of proactive measures in addressing hate and harassment, while it does not specify any deletions from current law. The overall goal is to foster a safer and more inclusive environment for students by ensuring that institutions are equipped to handle incidents of bias and intimidation effectively.