Bill > HB2120

This bill, known as "Sawyer's Law," establishes comprehensive antibullying requirements for Missouri school districts and charter schools, aiming to ensure a safe learning environment for all students. It defines "bullying" broadly to include intimidation, aggressive behavior, and harassment that is repetitive or likely to be repeated, causing fear for safety or property, interfering with education, or disrupting school operations, and clarifies that this can involve physical actions, oral, written, or electronic communication, including "cyberbullying" which is bullying via electronic devices. The law mandates that each school district and charter school must have an antibullying policy included in student handbooks, which must prohibit bullying, establish procedures for employees to report bullying incidents in a timely manner, and require notification of parents or guardians when an incident is reported and an investigation begins. Importantly, the policy must state that schools will not adopt a "zero-tolerance disciplinary policy," which is defined as a policy that automatically imposes consequences without case-by-case discretion, and must consider if an act of school violence was committed in self-defense. The policy also needs a procedure for reporting bullying, designating an individual at each school to receive reports, and outlines a prompt investigation process, requiring written reports of findings and interventions. Furthermore, it prohibits retaliation against those who report bullying, details how the policy will be publicized, and mandates training for school employees and volunteers on the policy, including appropriate interventions and potential liability for inaction. The bill grants schools jurisdiction to prohibit cyberbullying that impacts the educational environment, even if it originates off-campus, and requires regular review and revision of antibullying policies with input from various stakeholders. It also mandates monthly reporting of bullying, school violence, and crimes to the school board for review in closed meetings and provides immunity for employees or volunteers who intervene in such incidents in good faith and according to proper procedures, as well as for good-faith disciplinary actions taken against bullying students. Finally, the law clarifies that it does not negate existing immunities or defenses and that bullying incidents may be considered abuse for reporting purposes, while also preventing charter schools from expelling or transferring a student solely due to bullying reports.

Education

https://house.mo.gov/Bill.aspx?bill=HB2120&year=2026&code=R