Bill > HB1698

This bill, known as "Sawyer's Law," establishes comprehensive anti-bullying requirements for school districts and charter schools in Missouri, focusing on creating safe learning environments. The legislation defines bullying broadly as repetitive, aggressive behavior that causes fear, interferes with educational opportunities, or disrupts school operations, including physical, verbal, cyberbullying, and electronic communications. The bill mandates that school districts develop detailed anti-bullying policies that: require employees to report bullying incidents immediately, provide a clear reporting procedure, conduct prompt investigations within ten school days, notify parents of both bullied and bullying students, prohibit retaliation, and implement educational programs to address bullying. The bill also provides legal protections for school employees who intervene in bullying incidents in good faith and requires monthly reporting of bullying incidents to school boards. Additionally, the legislation emphasizes that policies must treat all students equally, avoid zero-tolerance approaches, consider self-defense contexts, and potentially refer serious incidents to law enforcement. The bill aims to create a comprehensive framework for preventing and addressing bullying while protecting the rights and safety of all students.

Education

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB1698&year=2026&code=R