Senate Bill 45 Summary

• School districts and public school academies must adopt a policy prohibiting harassment or bullying by December 31, 2011, developed through a process including parents, employees, volunteers, pupils, administrators, and community representatives.

• Policy must include definitions of harassment and bullying, expected behavior standards, age-appropriate consequences, reporting procedures (including anonymous reports), investigation procedures to be completed within 3 school days, and response ranges based on incident severity.

• Harassment and bullying are defined as conduct directed at one or more pupils that substantially interferes with educational opportunities and is based on protected characteristics (religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability, height, weight, gender identity, socioeconomic status, or association with someone with these characteristics).

• Schools must provide annual training to employees and volunteers, incorporate policy information into employee training programs, publicize the policy, and report incidents to the department annually; law enforcement must initiate investigations within 3 days of reports.

• School employees who promptly report incidents in compliance with policy procedures are immune from liability for failure to remedy the incident; the section is titled "Matt's Safe School Law."