This bill amends existing public school laws to enhance protections against harassment, intimidation, and bullying by extending these protections to teachers and staff members, in addition to students. It revises the definition of harassment, intimidation, or bullying to include acts involving deceptive audio or visual media, particularly those that utilize fraudulent impersonation or false depiction through artificial intelligence or deepfake technology. The bill emphasizes that such acts can be motivated by various characteristics, including race, gender, and disability, and recognizes the potential for these actions to disrupt the orderly operation of schools and cause harm to individuals within the school community.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that school districts implement comprehensive policies to address harassment, intimidation, or bullying, which must include clear definitions, reporting procedures, and consequences for violations. It ensures that teachers and staff have a means to report incidents and receive updates on investigations, while also providing protections against retaliation for those who report such incidents. Additionally, the bill establishes school safety teams to address complaints and patterns of harassment, requiring team members to undergo professional development to effectively manage school climate issues. The provisions of this bill take effect immediately upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:37-14, 18A:37-15, 18A:37-16, 18A:37-20, 18A:37-21