SECOND REGULAR SESSION
SENATE BILL NO. 1135
92ND GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY SENATORS FOSTER, COLEMAN, DOUGHERTY AND KENNEDY.
Read 1st time January 22, 2004, and ordered printed.
TERRY L. SPIELER, Secretary.
4060S.01I
AN ACT
To amend chapter 160, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to bullying in public schools.
Section A. Chapter 160, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 160.670, to read as follows:
160.670. For the purposes of this section, "bullying" is any written or verbal expression or physical act or gesture or a pattern of behavior intended to cause emotional distress of a student in a public school, on public grounds, in public school vehicles, at public school bus stops, or at public school activities or sanctioned events. In order to provide a learning environment that is safe, conducive to the learning process, and free from unnecessary disruption, following consultation with parents, guardians, teachers, administrators, students, student councils where applicable and, where appropriate, the community at large, each public school district shall promulgate and implement a bully-free school plan. The plan shall state specific policies in effect designed to prevent bullying from occurring. The plan shall also contain procedures for disciplining students who bully. Each public school shall submit annually, in a manner and by a date determined by the department of elementary and secondary education, a written report to the superintendent of its respective school district concerning the learning environment in the school for the previous year. Each school district's superintendent shall compile the reports from every school in the district and shall annually submit the compiled report to the department of elementary and secondary education in a format and on a date specified by the department. The report shall include, but not be limited to, the bully-free school plan in effect in the school district, the number of bullying incidents reported at each school, and the total number of incidents reported in the district. The reports shall be made available to the public annually.