Bill Text: MI SB0137 | 2011-2012 | 96th Legislature | Introduced
Bill Title: Education; discipline; policy prohibiting harassment and bullying at school; require. Amends 1976 PA 451 (MCL 380.1 - 380.1852) by adding sec. 1310b.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Engrossed - Dead) 2011-11-02 - Referred To Committee On Education [SB0137 Detail]
Download: Michigan-2011-SB0137-Introduced.html
SENATE BILL No. 137
February 10, 2011, Introduced by Senator JONES and referred to the Committee on Education.
A bill to amend 1976 PA 451, entitled
"The revised school code,"
(MCL 380.1 to 380.1852) by adding section 1310b.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:
Sec. 1310b. (1) Not later than 6 months after the effective
date of this section, the board of a school district or
intermediate school district or board of directors of a public
school academy shall adopt and implement a policy prohibiting
bullying or harassment at school, as defined in this section. The
legislature encourages a board or board of directors to include in
its policy provisions concerning education, parental involvement,
reporting, investigation, and intervention. Before adopting the
policy, the board or board of directors shall hold at least 1
public hearing on the proposed policy. This public hearing may be
held as part of a regular board meeting. Not later than 30 days
after adopting the policy, the board or board of directors shall
submit a copy of its policy to the department.
(2) Not later than 1 year after the deadline under subsection
(1) for districts and public school academies to submit copies of
their policies to the department, the department shall submit a
report to the senate and house standing committees on education
summarizing the status of the implementation of policies under this
section.
(3) As used in this section:
(a) "At school" means in a classroom, elsewhere on school
premises, on a school bus or other school-related vehicle, or at a
school-sponsored activity or event whether or not it is held on
school premises. "At school" includes conduct using a
telecommunications access device or telecommunications service
provider that occurs off school premises if the telecommunications
access device or the telecommunications service provider is owned
by or under the control of the school district or public school
academy.
(b) "Bullying or harassment" means abuse of a pupil by 1 or
more other pupils in any form. The term includes, but is not
limited to, conduct that meets any of the following:
(i) Substantially interferes with educational opportunities,
benefits, or programs of 1 or more pupils.
(ii) Adversely affects the ability of a pupil to participate in
or benefit from the school district's or public school's
educational programs or activities by placing the pupil in
reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing emotional distress.
(iii) Is reasonably perceived to be motivated by animus or by an
actual or perceived characteristic.
(c) "Telecommunications access device" and "telecommunications
service provider" mean those terms as defined in section 219a of
the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.219a.
(4) This section shall be known as "Matt's Safe School Law".
