Senate votes to strengthen state’s school bullying law

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Senate unanimously approved legislation Tuesday modifying the School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act. Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, authored Senate Bill 1138 to improve the safety of public schools and better protect students from bullying and harassment.

“I worked with many of my Senate colleagues in crafting this legislation to better address this ongoing and ever-evolving problem that is plaguing families and our schools,” Pemberton said. “This bill will hold schools accountable and ensure students and parents have input in creating policies to address this type of youth violence, and also that everyone feels safe enough to report such behavior. For many students, school is their safe space, and we must continue doing all we can to ensure it stays that way.”

The bill requires a school district board of education to update its discipline and bullying policy annually. At least one public hearing would need to be held prior to adopting the policy or making any modifications. The policy would be submitted to the State Department of Education (SDE) and the district superintendent would provide a report on bullying prevention activities and incidents of bullying at least once each semester. A copy of the new policy would be provided to every district employee by the school board.

SB 1138 further directs such policies to include a procedure for a student, school employee, school volunteer, parent or legal guardian to report an act of bullying and directs anonymous reports be investigated in the same manner as other reports. It provides immunity from a cause of action for school employees, school volunteers, students, parents, or legal guardians who report incidents of bullying in good faith. School policies must contain a statement prohibiting retaliation against a school employee for notifying a district board of education or the SDE about noncompliance. Policies must further include a procedure for notifying parents and legal guardians of a victim and reported perpetrator of bullying within 24 hours of a reported incident, and there must be immediate notification if a student expresses suicidal thoughts or encourages another student to commit suicide.

Rep. Daniel Pae, R-Lawton, is the principal House author of the bill, which now moves to the House.

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For more information, contact:  Sen. Pemberton: (405) 521-5533 or Dewayne.Pemberton@oksenate.gov