Free Legal advice about bullying laws in Oklahoma

§70-24-100.3.  School Bullying Prevention Act - Legislative findings - Purpose of act - Definitions.

A.  The Legislature finds that bullying has a negative effect on the social environment of schools, creates a climate of fear among students, inhibits their ability to learn, and leads to other antisocial behavior.  Bullying behavior has been linked to other forms of antisocial behavior, such as vandalism, shoplifting, skipping and dropping out of school, fighting, and the use of drugs and alcohol.  Research has shown that sixty percent (60%) of males who were bullies in grades six through nine were convicted of at least one crime as adults, and thirty-five percent (35%) to forty percent (40%) of these former bullies had three or more convictions by twenty-four (24) years of age.  Successful programs to recognize, prevent, and effectively intervene in bullying behavior have been developed and replicated in schools across the country. These schools send the message that bullying behavior is not tolerated and, as a result, have improved safety and created a more inclusive learning environment.
B.  The purpose of the School Bullying Prevention Act is to provide a comprehensive approach for the public schools of this state to create an environment free of unnecessary disruption which is conducive to the learning process by implementing policies for the prevention of harassment, intimidation, and bullying.
C.  As used in the School Bullying Prevention Act:
1.  “Harassment, intimidation, and bullying” means any gesture, written or verbal expression, electronic communication, or physical act that a reasonable person should know will harm another student, damage another student’s property, place another student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or damage to the student’s property, or insult or demean any student or group of students in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school’s educational mission or the education of any student.  “Harassment, intimidation, and bullying” include, but are not limited to, gestures, written, verbal, or physical acts, or electronic communications;
2.  “At school” means on school grounds, in school vehicles, at designated school bus stops, at school-sponsored activities, or at school-sanctioned events;
3.  "Electronic communication" means the communication of any written, verbal, or pictorial information by means of an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, a cellular telephone or other wireless telecommunication device, or a computer; and
4.  "Threatening behavior" means any pattern of behavior or isolated action, whether or not it is directed at another person, that a reasonable person would believe indicates potential for future harm to students, school personnel, or school property.
D.  Nothing in this act shall be construed to impose a specific liability on any school district.

Added by Laws 2002, c. 149, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2002.  Amended by Laws 2008, c. 216, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2008.

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