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 emphasizes that such acts can be motivated by various characteristics, including race, gender, and disability, and outlines specific behaviors that disrupt the orderly operation of schools, including those causing physical or emotional harm.

Furthermore, the bill mandates that school districts adopt comprehensive policies prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying, which must include provisions for reporting incidents, investigating complaints, and protecting individuals from retaliation. It ensures that teachers and staff have a means to report incidents against themselves and requires timely communication to parents, guardians, and staff involved in investigations. Additionally, the bill establishes school safety teams to address complaints and patterns of harassment, and it provides legal immunity for school employees who report incidents in compliance with district policies. The bill is set to take effect immediately upon passage.

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