Substitute Senate Bill No. 1138 - Summary

• Establishes comprehensive definitions of bullying, cyberbullying, and related terms, including bullying based on actual or perceived characteristics such as race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and socioeconomic status.

• Requires each school district to develop and implement a "safe school climate plan" by January 1, 2012, including anonymous reporting mechanisms, investigation procedures, prevention strategies, parent notification within 48 hours of investigation completion, and documentation of all bullying incidents.

• Mandates appointment of a district safe school climate coordinator and school-based safe school climate specialists (principals or designees) to oversee bullying prevention, investigation, and response efforts starting with the 2012-2013 school year.

• Requires all school employees to complete annual training on bullying prevention, identification and response, and youth suicide prevention; mandates reporting of suspected bullying incidents to administrators within one school day (orally) and two school days (in writing).

• Extends school jurisdiction over bullying to include incidents outside school settings if they create a hostile school environment, infringe on student rights at school, or substantially disrupt the education process; provides immunity from liability for school employees, students, and boards of education acting in good faith.