SENATE DOCKET, NO. 744        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 320

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Mark C. Montigny

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act strengthening the anti-bullying law.

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 744        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 320

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 248 OF 2013-2014.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

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An Act strengthening the anti-bullying law.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 1.  Section 37 of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing  in section 5 of chapter 92 of the Acts of 2010, is amended in  subsection (d) by striking the following text “(viii) procedures consistent with state and federal law for promptly notifying the parents or guardians of a victim and a perpetrator; provided, further, that the parents or guardians of a victim shall also be notified of the action taken to prevent any further acts of bullying or retaliation; and provided, further, that the procedures shall provide for immediate notification pursuant to regulations promulgated under this subsection by the principal or person who holds a comparable role to the local law enforcement agency when criminal charges may be pursued against the perpetrator;” and inserting the following new text:-

(viii) procedures consistent with state and federal law for promptly notifying the parents or guardians of a victim and a perpetrator; provided, further, that the parents or guardians of a victim shall also be notified of the action taken to prevent any further acts of bullying or retaliation; and provided, further, that the procedures shall provide for immediate notification by the principal or person who holds a comparable role to the local law enforcement agency to determine whether criminal charges should  be brought against the perpetrator;

Section 2. Section 37 of chapter 71 is amended by inserting after subsection “(j)” the following new subsection;-

(k)  The school district where the victim attends shall be responsible for the cost of transportation if a determination is made by the school district approved and collaborative school and the parents or guardian of the victim that, in the best interest of the victim, that the victim be transferred to another school district.