The bill SB 210 amends existing laws concerning school attendance, residency, and anti-bullying policies. It introduces a revised definition of "negligence" related to bullying and cyberbullying, requiring school districts to implement comprehensive anti-bullying policies that include prohibitions against retaliation, reporting procedures, and communication protocols with parents. The Department of Education is mandated to report on waivers for parental notification and the number of out-of-state cyberbullying cases. Additionally, the bill allows parents to enroll their children in public schools outside their resident district, establishes a timeline for investigating bullying incidents, and emphasizes the inclusion of anti-bullying procedures in student handbooks.

Key changes include the repeal of certain provisions related to anti-bullying policy reporting and the definition of bullying, streamlining the legal framework. The bill specifies that parents must ensure their children attend "a" public school rather than "the" assigned school, clarifies the definition of a "legal resident," and mandates open enrollment policies for school districts. It also updates the definition of "teacher" to align with federal education laws and requires annual reporting on transfer applications. The bill ensures no tuition charges for public school attendance and maintains the responsibility for services to children with disabilities with the resident district. The new provisions will take effect on January 1, 2026, while other sections will be effective 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