House Bill 245 Summary

• Creates the crime of cyberbullying through computer or electronic media with specific prohibited conduct including building fake profiles, posting private/sexual information, and repeated electronic communications intended to intimidate or torment minors.

• Establishes cyberbullying as a gross misdemeanor for adults (18+) and misdemeanor for minors under 18, with provisions allowing minors to have charges expunged upon successful completion of probation terms.

• Creates separate crime of student cyberbullying of school employees as a misdemeanor, with similar expungement provisions available.

• Provides immunity from civil and criminal liability for school employees who take reasonable good faith actions to end fights or altercations between students, and prohibits school boards from reprimanding employees for acting or failing to act consistently with board policies.

• Requires school principals to immediately report specified violent crimes and weapons/drug possession on school property to law enforcement and notify the superintendent in writing or by email by end of workday; allows transfer or reassignment of students convicted of cyberbullying to another school or alternative program.