FL H1217

Requires each district school board to provide cyberbullying and cyberstalking awareness instruction in all K-12 public schools during the third week in September each year, designated as "Cyberbullying and Cyberstalking Awareness Week"

Defines "cyberbullying" as transmission of electronic communication with malicious or willful intent to threaten, torment, abuse, or intimidate an individual

Defines "cyberstalking" as engaging in a course of conduct to communicate words, images, or language via electronic mail or electronic communication directed at a specific person, causing substantial emotional distress and serving no legitimate purpose

Requires instruction to be integrated into existing school curriculum through methods including supplementing lesson plans, holding school assemblies, or providing school-related activities, delivered by qualified school personnel or knowledgeable guest speakers

Establishes instructional goals including identifying and preventing cyberbullying, raising awareness of serious consequences including civil and criminal penalties, teaching response methods including reporting to school officials, and understanding that incidents often continue outside school hours

Effective date: July 1, 2012