SB 210 amends existing laws concerning bullying and cyberbullying in schools, enhancing the definition of "negligence" and introducing new reporting requirements for the Department of Education. The bill mandates that school boards establish written policies prohibiting bullying and cyberbullying, which must include reporting procedures, disciplinary consequences, and communication protocols with parents. Key insertions include the requirement for the Department to report on the number of waivers granted for parental notification, the number of waivers granted for investigation extensions, and the number of out-of-state cyberbullying cases reported and investigated. Additionally, the bill allows parents to enroll their children in public schools outside their resident district and streamlines the legal framework surrounding bullying policies by repealing certain existing provisions. Furthermore, SB 210 modifies school attendance and residency requirements, specifying that parents must ensure their children attend "a" public school rather than "the" school assigned in their resident district. The definition of "legal resident" is updated to clarify domicile requirements, and the process for resolving residency disputes is simplified. The bill also establishes an open enrollment policy for school districts, allowing students to transfer among schools within the district or from other districts, while ensuring transparency regarding school capacities. Key provisions include the elimination of tuition charges for public school attendance and the requirement for resident districts to pay receiving districts at least 80% of the average cost per pupil. The effective date for most provisions is set for January 1, 2026, with others taking effect 30 days after passage.

Statutes affected:
As Amended by the House: 193-F:6, 193-F:9, 193-F:4, 193-F:3, 193:12, 194-D:1, 194-D:2, 194-D:5, 194-D:7