HI HB225

Requires the Board of Education to develop a comprehensive bullying prevention and response action plan addressing prevention education, reporting procedures, investigations, evidence preservation, alternative dispute resolution, referrals to counseling services, and appeals processes.

Mandates the Board of Education to establish reporting requirements for the Department of Education's compliance with bullying and harassment policies and to review and update the action plan every 24 months.

Requires annual legislative reports beginning in 2022 detailing each alleged bullying or harassment incident (with names redacted), including incident descriptions, dates, investigation status, disposition, response timeline, and affected school identification.

Defines "bullying" as intentional verbal, physical, written, or electronic acts that are severe, pervasive, or persistent and cause fear of substantial harm, incite violence, or create an intimidating educational environment.

Defines "harassment" as conduct including physical contact, insulting language, discriminatory expressions based on protected characteristics, name-calling, unwanted communications, intimidation preventing facility access, or threatening/stalking behavior; repeals Act 214, Session Laws of Hawaii 2011; takes effect July 1, 2050.