HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3889        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3754

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Danielle W. Gregoire

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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 relative to school bullying.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3889        FILED ON: 1/20/2023

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3754

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)

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An Act relative to school bullying.

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 1B of chapter 69 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

The board shall see to it that all schools provide the board with a copy of the updated plan to address bullying prevention and intervention under subsection (d) of section 37O of chapter 71. In the event of noncompliance, the board and the commissioner may use all powers established under this section to ensure schools provide the board with a copy of the updated plan under said subsection (d) of said section 37O.

SECTION 2. Paragraph (1) of subsection (d) of section 37O of chapter 71 of the General Laws, as so appearing , is hereby amended by striking out the third and fourth sentences and inserting in place thereof the following 2 sentences:- The consultation shall include, but not be limited to: (i) notice that shall be posted, with a draft copy of the updated plan, in a conspicuous place or places on the school’s premises and on the school’s website; (ii) a public comment period that shall accept written comments on the updated plan, submitted by any interested person, within 30 days of the posted notice; provided, however, that a non-public school shall only be required to give notice to and provide a comment period for families that have a child attending the school; and (iii) if no plan is currently in place, prior to the development of the plan there shall be a public comment period accepting written comments on the development of the original plan, submitted by any interested person and upon completion of the original plan the school shall follow the steps in clauses (i) and (ii). The school shall consider all relevant comments and suggestions before finalizing the plan and subsequent updates to the plan. The plan shall be updated every 2 years and a copy of the updated plan shall be submitted to the board within 30 days of the completed updates.

SECTION 3. Said section 37O of said chapter 71, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after the word “retaliation”, in line 272, the following words:- , including incidents that result in students being suspended or expelled.

SECTION 4. Subsection (n) of said section 37O of said chapter 71, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by striking out the first sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:- The department shall investigate certain alleged incidents of bullying, within a 2 year period of the alleged incidents.