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, such as fraudulent impersonation or false depiction through artificial intelligence or deepfake technology. The bill clarifies that such acts can be directed at any individual within the school environment and emphasizes that harassment must be addressed if it disrupts the orderly operation of the school or infringes on individual rights.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that school districts adopt comprehensive policies prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying, which must include definitions, reporting procedures, and consequences for violations. It ensures that teachers and staff have a means to report incidents of bullying against them and establishes immunity for school employees who report such incidents in compliance with district policies. Additionally, the bill requires the formation of school safety teams to address complaints and patterns of harassment, ensuring that team members receive professional development opportunities. Overall, the legislation aims to create a safer and more inclusive educational environment for all individuals within the school community.

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