HB5427 - School Bullying Prevention Summary

• Creates comprehensive anti-bullying framework for Illinois public schools including harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention programs, policies, and reporting requirements effective June 1, 2015.

• Requires school districts to adopt anti-bullying policies, appoint district anti-bullying coordinators and school anti-bullying specialists, establish school safety teams, and conduct formal investigations within 10 school days of reported incidents.

• Mandates public school teaching staff complete at least 2 hours of suicide prevention instruction in each professional development period, including information on the relationship between bullying and suicide risk.

• Establishes causes for student suspension or expulsion including harassment, intimidation, or bullying (defined as actions motivated by actual or perceived race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or other distinguishing characteristics).

• Creates the Bullying Prevention Fund to support school district grants for anti-bullying training, programs, and personnel; requires public institutions of higher education to adopt similar harassment and bullying prohibitions in their student codes of conduct.