HB226 Summary

• Amends Section 16-28B-3, Code of Alabama 1975, to expand the definition of "harassment" in school harassment prevention policies to explicitly include gender identity or sexual orientation as protected characteristics.

• Defines harassment as a continuous pattern of intentional behavior on school property, school buses, or at school-sponsored functions that is reasonably perceived as motivated by a student's gender identity, sexual orientation, or association with someone having these characteristics.

• Harassment pattern must place a student in reasonable fear of harm, substantially interfere with educational performance, disrupt school operations, create a hostile environment, or be severe and persistent enough to create an intimidating or abusive educational environment.

• Applies to all public schools grades pre-kindergarten through 12, the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind, the Alabama High School of Mathematics and Science, and the Alabama School of Fine Arts.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval.