Signed by Governor Chet Culver

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes rules for dealing with harassment in schools, requires schools to establish reporting procedures, and provides immunity for those who report abuses.

Highlights:

- Defines "harassment" and "bullying" as conduct toward a student based on a trait of that student which causes the student fear, threatens the student's health, or interferes with the student's academic performance [Sec.2.a(1-4)]. - Prohibits harassment/bullying involving any communication with e-mail, the Internet, pagers, text messaging, or other electronic communication (sec.2.2.a). - Includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in addition to age, race, religion, physical attributes, political belief, socioeconomic status, and other traits (Sec. 2.b). - Requires school districts and nonpublic schools to adopt policies on or before September 1, 2007 that prohibit bullying, establish consequences for bullying, and set procedures for reporting/investigating complaints (Sec.3). - Prohibits reprisal, retaliation, or false accusations against any victim, witness, or an individual with reliable information [Sec.3.a(2)]. - Provides immunity from civil or criminal liability for those who report an incident of harassment or bullying in good faith (Sec.5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes rules for dealing with harassment in schools, requires schools to establish reporting procedures, and provides immunity for those who report abuses.

Highlights:

- Defines "harassment" and "bullying" as conduct toward a student based on a trait of that student which causes the student fear, threatens the student's health, or interferes with the student's academic performance [Sec.2.a(1-4)]. - Prohibits harassment/bullying involving any communication with e-mail, the Internet, pagers, text messaging, or other electronic communication (sec.2.2.a). - Includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in addition to age, race, religion, physical attributes, political belief, socioeconomic status, and other traits (Sec. 2.b). - Requires school districts and nonpublic schools to adopt policies on or before September 1, 2007 that prohibit bullying, establish consequences for bullying, and set procedures for reporting/investigating complaints (Sec.3). - Prohibits reprisal, retaliation, or false accusations against any victim, witness, or an individual with reliable information [Sec.3.a(2)]. - Provides immunity from civil or criminal liability for those who report an incident of harassment or bullying in good faith (Sec.5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes rules for dealing with harassment in schools, requires schools to establish reporting procedures, and provides immunity for those who report abuses.

Highlights:

- Defines "harassment" and "bullying" as conduct toward a student based on a trait of that student which causes the student fear, threatens the student's health, or interferes with the student's academic performance [Sec.2.a(1-4)]. - Prohibits harassment/bullying involving any communication with e-mail, the Internet, pagers, text messaging, or other electronic communication (sec.2.2.a). - Includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in addition to age, race, religion, physical attributes, political belief, socioeconomic status, and other traits (Sec. 2.b). - Requires school districts and nonpublic schools to adopt policies on or before September 1, 2007 that prohibit bullying, establish consequences for bullying, and set procedures for reporting/investigating complaints (Sec.3). - Prohibits reprisal, retaliation, or false accusations against any victim, witness, or an individual with reliable information [Sec.3.a(2)]. - Provides immunity from civil or criminal liability for those who report an incident of harassment or bullying in good faith (Sec.5).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes rules for dealing with harassment in schools, requires schools to establish reporting procedures, and provides immunity for those who report abuses.

Highlights:

- Defines "harassment" and "bullying" as conduct toward a student based on a trait of that student which causes the student fear, threatens the student's health, or interferes with the student's academic performance [Sec.2.a(1-4)]. - Includes protections for sexual orientation and gender identity in addition to age, race, religion, physical attributes, political belief, socioeconomic status, and other traits (Sec. 2.b). - Requires school districts and nonpublic schools to adopt policies on or before September 1, 2007 that prohibit bullying, establish consequences for bullying, and set procedures for reporting/investigating complaints (Sec.3). - Prohibits reprisal, retaliation, or false accusations against any victim, witness, or an individual with reliable information [Sec.3.a(2)]. - Provides immunity from civil or criminal liability for those who report an incident of harassment or bullying in good faith (Sec.5).

Full Bill Text