This bill mandates that school districts and chartered public schools implement a policy for scheduling bullying resolution conferences and developing action plans for parents and guardians of alleged bullying perpetrators. Specifically, it requires the school board or board of trustees to adopt a written policy within six months of the bill's effective date, which includes scheduling a conference with the perpetrator's parents or guardians within ten days of notification of a bullying incident. The policy must also outline the development of a written bullying action plan that includes mandatory attendance in educational courses for the parents and participation in anti-bullying classes for the perpetrator. Additionally, if a subsequent act of bullying occurs, the bullying officer is required to notify the parents and file a petition alleging that the perpetrator is a child in need of services.

The bill introduces new legal language by adding a paragraph to RSA 193-F:4, which outlines the requirements for bullying resolution conferences and action plans, and establishes the role of bullying officers in enforcing these policies. It also amends RSA 169-D:2 to classify repeat bullying perpetrators as children in need of services. The bill does not allocate funding or authorize new positions but anticipates increased expenditures related to the implementation of these policies, including potential costs for additional juvenile probation officers and voluntary services for new cases. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 193-F:4, 169-D:2