Senate File 2176

                                       SENATE FILE       
                                       BY  COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

                                       (SUCCESSOR TO SSB 3109)


    Passed Senate, Date               Passed House,  Date             
    Vote:  Ayes        Nays           Vote:  Ayes        Nays         
                 Approved                            

                                      A BILL FOR

  1 An Act relating to bullying at school and requiring school
  2    districts to adopt and annually review antibullying policies.
  3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA:
  4 TLSB 6308SV 80
  5 kh/sh/8

PAG LIN

  1  1    Section 1.  Section 279.8, Code 2003, is amended to read as
  1  2 follows:
  1  3    279.8  GENERAL RULES == BONDS OF EMPLOYEES REQUIREMENTS.
  1  4    1.  GOVERNMENT == PROPERTY.  The board shall make rules for
  1  5 its own government and that of the directors, officers,
  1  6 employees, teachers, and pupils, and for the care of the
  1  7 schoolhouse, grounds, and property of the school corporation,
  1  8 and shall aid in the enforcement of the rules, and require the
  1  9 performance of duties imposed by law and the rules.
  1 10    2.  SCHOOL BUS LOADING AND UNLOADING.  The board shall
  1 11 include in its rules provisions regulating the loading and
  1 12 unloading of pupils from a school bus stopped on the highway
  1 13 during a period of reduced highway visibility caused by fog,
  1 14 snow, or other weather conditions.
  1 15    3.  SCHOOL CREDIT CARDS.  The board shall have the
  1 16 authority to include in its rules provisions allowing school
  1 17 corporation employees to use school credit cards to pay for
  1 18 the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance
  1 19 of work=related duties.
  1 20    4.  BONDS OF EMPLOYEES.  Employees of a school corporation
  1 21 maintaining a high school who have the custody of funds
  1 22 belonging to the corporation or funds derived from
  1 23 extracurricular activities and other sources in the conduct of
  1 24 their duties, shall be required to furnish suitable bond
  1 25 indemnifying the corporation or any activity group connected
  1 26 with the school against loss, and employees who have the
  1 27 custody of property belonging to the corporation or any
  1 28 activity group connected with the school may be required to
  1 29 furnish such bond.  Said Such bond or bonds may be in such
  1 30 form and penalty as the board may approve and the premiums on
  1 31 same the bond or bonds shall be paid from the general fund of
  1 32 the corporation.
  1 33    5.  ANTIBULLYING POLICY.  The board of directors of each
  1 34 school district shall adopt and annually review a policy
  1 35 prohibiting bullying of all students.  The policy shall
  2  1 reflect community standards by including local input from
  2  2 parents, guardians, school employees, volunteers, students,
  2  3 school administrators, and other members of the community.
  2  4 The school board shall annually review the policy with
  2  5 parents, guardians, school employees, volunteers, students,
  2  6 school administrators, and other members of the community.
  2  7 The policy shall, at a minimum, include or provide for all of
  2  8 the following:
  2  9    a.  A definition of bullying.
  2 10    b.  Effective prevention strategies.
  2 11    c.  Monitoring and evaluation of the policy's
  2 12 effectiveness.
  2 13    d.  Procedures for receiving and responding to complaints.
  2 14    e.  Consequences and appropriate remedial action for
  2 15 violation of the policy, taking into account the pattern and
  2 16 severity of particular bullying behavior.
  2 17    f.  Public notice of the policy.
  2 18    g.  Prohibition of reprisals or retaliation against any
  2 19 person who reports bullying behavior.
  2 20    Each school board shall develop procedures necessary to
  2 21 implement and administer this subsection.
  2 22                           EXPLANATION
  2 23    This bill requires school boards to adopt and annually
  2 24 review a policy prohibiting bullying of all students.  The
  2 25 policy must reflect community standards and the review must
  2 26 include the participation of parents, guardians, students,
  2 27 volunteers, and school employees.  The policy must include or
  2 28 provide for a definition of bullying, effective prevention
  2 29 strategies, monitoring and evaluation of the policy's
  2 30 effectiveness, procedures for receiving and responding to
  2 31 complaints, consequences and remedial action, public notice of
  2 32 the policy, and a prohibition of reprisals or retaliation
  2 33 against anyone who reports bullying.
  2 34 LSB 6308SV 80
  2 35 kh/sh/8