Bill > HB2278

This bill amends existing Oklahoma law to explicitly define and address cyberbullying within schools, expanding the definition of bullying to include electronic communication and acts motivated by a student's protected characteristics or associations, such as race, religion, sexual orientation, or disabilities, when these acts physically harm a student, damage property, interfere with education, create a threatening environment, or disrupt school operations. It requires school districts to adopt policies that prohibit harassment, intimidation, bullying, and cyberbullying, and to establish procedures for reporting, investigating, and responding to such incidents, including mandatory reporting by school employees and anonymous reporting options, with provisions for notifying parents of perpetrators and providing training for staff and students. The bill also mandates that the State Board of Education develop a model policy and training materials, monitor school districts for compliance, and maintain a central repository for data on bullying and cyberbullying incidents, while emphasizing the importance of Safe School Committees in studying and recommending strategies to prevent these behaviors.