The Texas legislature has passed a law (SB 179) that adds to the rules on harassment, bullying and cyberbullying of a public school student or minor.
Starting September 1, 2017, notice of alleged bullying must be given to the parent of the target student on or before the third business day after the incident is reported. The alleged bully’s parent is to be notified within a “reasonable time.”
Chapter 37 is amended to allow for expulsion or DAEP for a student who 1) engages in bullying that encourages suicide; 2) incites violence through group bullying; or 3) releases or threatens to release “intimate visual material” of a minor or an adult student without consent.
Students are to be allowed to anonymously report bullying. School counselors are to be an “impartial, nonreporting conciliator”.
Parents or students are now allowed to seek injunctive relief from a court to stop and/or prevent cyberbullying of a minor. This relief could be against the student bully, or the parents of a bully who is under 18.
For more information, go to http://www.livebinders.com/play/play?id=1772973#anchor or http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/BillLookup/BillNumber.aspx
Check out Chuck’s other legislative update posts at http://prntexas.org/tag/legislative-update/
