The bill amends the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act to expand the definition of "harassment, intimidation, or bullying" to encompass acts against all students, removing the previous limitation to those in protected classes. It eliminates the requirement that such conduct must be perceived as motivated by specific characteristics, such as race, gender, or disability. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Commissioner of Education update the model policy on harassment, intimidation, or bullying in alignment with any revisions to the Act, ensuring that school district policies are consistently updated.

To enhance accountability, the bill requires school employees and contracted service providers to report incidents of violence directly to the district superintendent and mandates that reports of harassment, intimidation, or bullying be disaggregated by demographic factors, including race and eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch. The legislation also emphasizes the importance of confidentiality and prohibits the unauthorized release of sensitive information. Furthermore, it requires ongoing training for staff and mandates that parents and guardians are informed about investigations and outcomes, ultimately aiming to create a safer educational environment by holding schools accountable for their anti-bullying efforts.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:17-46, 18A:37-14, 18A:37-15, 18A:37-17