HOUSE BILL 54

51st legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2013

INTRODUCED BY

Sheryl Williams Stapleton

AN ACT

RELATING TO PUBLIC EDUCATION; REQUIRING LOCAL SCHOOL BOARDS TO PROMULGATE CYBERBULLYING PREVENTION POLICIES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

     SECTION 1. Section 22-2-21 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2011, Chapter 50, Section 1) is amended to read:

     "22-2-21. BULLYING AND CYBERBULLYING PREVENTION PROGRAMS.--

          A. The department shall establish guidelines for bullying prevention policies to be promulgated by local school boards. Every local school board shall promulgate a bullying prevention policy by August 2011. Every public school shall implement a bullying prevention program by August 2012.

          B. Every local school board shall promulgate a specific cyberbullying prevention policy by August 2013. Cyberbullying prevention policies shall require that:

                (1) all licensed school employees complete training on how to recognize signs that a person is being cyberbullied;

                (2) any licensed school employee who has information about or a reasonable suspicion that a person is being cyberbullied report the matter immediately to the school principal or the local superintendent or both;

                (3) any school administrator or local superintendent who receives a report of cyberbullying take immediate steps to ensure prompt investigation of the report; and

                (4) school administrators take prompt disciplinary action in response to cyberbullying confirmed through investigation.

          C. Each local school board shall make any necessary revisions to its disciplinary policies to ensure compliance with the provisions of this section.

          D. As used in this section, "cyberbullying" means the use of communication technologies, including internet and mobile telecommunication services, to intimidate, control, manipulate, falsely discredit, humiliate, embarrass or otherwise harm another person."

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