MO HB495

School districts may discipline students for cyberbullying that originates on campus when using school technology or personal devices on school grounds

Districts may also discipline off-campus cyberbullying if it was reasonably foreseeable the communication would reach campus, or if there is sufficient nexus to the school (such as targeting a school-specific audience or being accessed on campus)

Disciplinary actions are tiered by severity: first-time or minor offenses may require counseling; second or more serious offenses may result in prohibition from school activities; serious incidents may lead to suspension or expulsion

"Cyberbullying" is defined as bullying through electronic transmission of messages, texts, sounds, or images via phones, wireless devices, computers, or pagers

Amends existing Missouri law (Section 160.775) that already requires all districts to have antibullying policies and mandates employee reporting of bullying incidents