Relating to state and school antiharassment and antibullying policies, providing for a competitive grant program to provide related training, and providing for a school climate and bullying prevention work group

This bill relates to antiharassment and antibullying efforts in schools.28 in school districts, subject to an appropriation of $250,000 by the general assembly.28 by adding any other electronic communication site, device, or means to the definition and by including social networking sites as part of the term “internet-based communications”. The bill requires that the system developed and maintained by school boards and authorities to collect harassment and bullying incidence data include data on the nature of each incident of harassment or bullying as specified in the bill. The bill requires a board to identify students in the system using only a student’s Iowa student state identification number. The bill requires the board of education to adopt by rule procedures for school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to carry out the collection and reporting of harassment and bullying incidence data. The rules shall require the inclusion of such data in the school district’s or school’s basic educational data survey. The rules shall also include procedures to ensure the accuracy of the data and timelines for school districts and accredited nonpublic schools to complete such collection and reporting after an incident of harassment or bullying occurs. The bill grants school officials the authority to investigate and impose school discipline or take other action in cases of alleged incidents of harassment or bullying that occur outside of school, off of school property, or away from school functions or school-sponsored activities if certain conditions are met. Those conditions are that an incident of harassment or bullying is reported pursuant to the school’s antiharassment and antibullying policy; and that the alleged incident of harassment or bullying has an effect on school grounds that creates an objectively hostile school environment that places the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or property, has a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health, has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s academic performance, or has the effect of substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school. The bill provides that a school official’s investigation and response to an alleged incident of bullying or harassment that occurs outside of school, off of school property, or away from a school function or school-sponsored activity may include referring the matter to appropriate community-based agencies. The bill requires the department of education to convene a public-private work group of representatives of state and local agencies, citizens, community groups, and organizations who have experience and expertise in the areas of antibullying education, research, and training. The work group, after reviewing existing research, data, and strategies, shall provide recommendations to the department regarding matters to enhance statewide school climate improvement and bullying prevention, awareness, and intervention. The bill provides for membership of the work group to be appointed by the director of the department. When making appointments to the work group, the director must ensure that public, nonpublic, urban, and rural schools are adequately represented by the membership of the work group. The work group shall also include ex officio legislative members. The department must convene the work group by October 1, 2020. The work group must submit its findings and recommendations in a final report to the department and the chairpersons and ranking members of the senate and house committees on education by December 13, 2021.