72-6147. Bullying, school district policies. (a) As used in this section:

(1) "Bullying" means: (A) Any intentional gesture or any intentional written, verbal, electronic or physical act or threat either by any student, staff member or parent towards a student or by any student, staff member or parent towards a staff member that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that such gesture, act or threat creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment that a reasonable person, under the circumstances, knows or should know will have the effect of:

(i) Harming a student or staff member, whether physically or mentally;

(ii) damaging a student's or staff member's property;

(iii) placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of harm to the student or staff member; or

(iv) placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of damage to the student's or staff member's property;

(B) cyberbullying; or

(C) any other form of intimidation or harassment prohibited by the board of education of the school district in policies concerning bullying adopted pursuant to this section or subsection (e) of K.S.A. 72-1138, and amendments thereto.

(2) "Cyberbullying" means bullying by use of any electronic communication device through means including, but not limited to, e-mail, instant messaging, text messages, blogs, mobile phones, pagers, online games and websites.

(3) "Parent" includes a guardian, custodian or other person with authority to act on behalf of the child.

(4) "School district" or "district" means any unified school district organized and operating under the laws of this state.

(5) "School vehicle" means any school bus, school van, other school vehicle and private vehicle used to transport students or staff members to and from school or any school-sponsored activity or event.

(6) "Staff member" means any person employed by a school district.

(b) The board of education of each school district shall adopt a policy to prohibit bullying either by any student, staff member or parent towards a student or by a student, staff member or parent towards a staff member on or while utilizing school property, in a school vehicle or at a school-sponsored activity or event.

(c) The board of education of each school district shall adopt and implement a plan to address bullying either by any student, staff member or parent towards a student or by a student, staff member or parent towards a staff member on school property, in a school vehicle or at a school-sponsored activity or event. Such plan shall include provisions for the training and education for staff members and students.

(d) The board of education of each school district may adopt additional policies relating to bullying pursuant to subsection (e) of K.S.A. 72-1138, and amendments thereto.

(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit or supersede or in any manner affect or diminish the requirements of compliance by a staff member with the provisions of K.S.A. 2018 Supp. 38-2223 or 38-2226, and amendments thereto.

History: L. 2007, ch. 185, § 4; L. 2008, ch. 77, § 1; L. 2013, ch. 121, § 15; July 1.