THIS SECTION WAS AMENDED BY ACT 2018-472 IN THE 2018 REGULAR SESSION, EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 2018. THIS IS NOT IN THE CURRENT CODE SUPPLEMENT.

(a) No student shall engage in or be subjected to bullying, intimidation, violence, or threats of violence on or off of school property, on a school bus, or at any school-sponsored function by any other student in his or her school system.

(b) No person shall engage in reprisal, retaliation, or false accusation against a victim, witness, or other person who has reliable information about an act of bullying, violence, or threat of violence.

(c) Any student, or parent or guardian of the student, who is the object of bullying may file a complaint outlining the details of the bullying, on a form authorized by the local board, and submit the form to the official designated by the local board to receive complaints at the school. A copy of the form shall be prominently posted and accessible on the website of each local board of education and school, shall be available at each school office, and shall be included in the student handbook that is distributed to each student at the beginning of each school year.

(d) Each school shall develop plans or programs, including, but not limited to, peer mediation teams, in an effort to encourage students to report and address incidents of bullying, violence, or threats of violence. At the beginning of each school year, each school shall programmatically address the issue of bullying and school violence with faculty and students. The program shall include a discussion of available resources and shall encourage the reporting of incidents of bullying. Each school shall also periodically convene a committee of faculty and students to review and discuss the issue of bullying and make recommendations to school administrators regarding school climate, safety, and bullying. The local superintendent of education may report any recommendations to the local board for its consideration.