Bill would require schools to put anti-bullying policy on paper, report number of incidents

A bill working its way through the Missouri General Assembly would toughen the consequences for bullying in schools.

HB 1583, which passed the House March 14, is likely to undergo a second reading in the Senate today and could be the subject of a committee hearing as early as next week, said state Rep. Kathy Swan of Cape Girardeau.

If passed, HB 1583 will become law for all Missouri school districts by Aug. 28 unless it's signed earlier.

Although Swan didn't prefile the bill in December, she's been part of its legislative journey in the intervening months.

"I was on the committee that heard the bill and helped out during the floor debate," she said.

Sponsored by state Rep. Sue Allen of St. Louis, HB 1583 is meant to force school districts to revisit anti-bullying policies and ensure they conform to the modified standards required by Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

HB 1583 defines bullying as intimidation or aggressive behavior that makes students afraid or substantially disrupts orderly school operations. It can be anything from physical actions to written or electronic communications.

Under the bill, bullying is prohibited on school property, at school functions or on buses.

The bill also focuses extensively on cyberbullying -- or using electronic devices or platforms to harass other students -- even if the electronic communication does not take place on school grounds. As long as the online bullying affects the school or its students, it must be reported.

"I think that is something that has developed in the past few years with the explosion of wireless technology and personal cellphones," Swan said.

The bill requires each school district's anti-bullying policy be included in its handbook and outlines the appropriate steps in reporting and punishing bullies. Districts also are required to revisit anti-bullying rules each year to ensure they remain compliant.

"Each district's anti-bullying policy shall be founded on the assumption that all students need a safe learning environment," the bill reads. "Policies shall treat all students equally and shall not contain specific lists of protected classes of students who are to receive special treatment. ... Each such policy shall contain a statement of consequences of bullying."

Under the proposed law, each school district would be required to report its number of bullying incidents to DESE each year.

ljones@semissourian.com

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