MI SB0137

School districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies must adopt and implement anti-bullying policies within 6 months of the law's effective date, following at least one public hearing and submission to the state Department of Education.

Policies must define bullying as written, verbal, physical, or electronic acts by pupils that harm others by substantially interfering with education, placing pupils in reasonable fear of physical harm, causing emotional distress, or disrupting school operations.

Required policy components include prohibition statements, procedures for reporting and investigating incidents, consequences for bullying and false accusations, staff training requirements, parent notification procedures, and counseling/support services for affected pupils and families.

Policies must address bullying occurring on school premises, school buses, school-sponsored events, and via school-controlled telecommunications devices, regardless of whether conduct occurs off-campus.

Employees, volunteers, pupils, and parents who report bullying in good faith are immune from civil liability for damages arising from the report or failure to remedy the incident; the law does not restrict First Amendment rights or sincerely held religious beliefs.