AN ACT RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS (Permits special community service to be imposed because of bullying based on religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.)

H7114

2026 -- H 7114
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS

Introduced By:
Representatives Ackerman, Shekarchi, McNamara, Boylan, Finkelman,
Kazarian, Kennedy, Donovan, J. Brien, and Newberry

Date Introduced:
January 15, 2026

Referred To:
House Education
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Chapter 16-21 of the General Laws entitled "Health and Safety of Pupils" is
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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
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16-21-44. Bullying -- Directed community service.

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(a) This section shall establish a form of restorative justice designed to address acts of
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bullying (the "action") in and around schools that are based on religious beliefs, sexual orientation,
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or ethnicity, in a manner which provides a suitable sanction for the action but also promotes
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learning, knowledge, and insight to deter a student from engaging in future acts of bullying.
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(b) As used in this section, the term "bullying" has the same meaning as "bullying" and
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"cyberbullying" as defined in § 16-21-33.
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(c) A student who commits an act or acts of bullying which is based upon or related to the
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religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or ethnicity of the person subject to the bullying, may, in
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addition to any other penalties provided by law, be required to perform up to ten (10) hours of
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directed community service in a setting and manner to both deter a student from engaging in future
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acts of bullying, and also to promote learning, knowledge, and insight. This community service
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may be imposed by a juvenile hearing board, or a school administration, or any combination
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thereof. Directed community service imposed by a school administration or juvenile hearing board
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shall not be deemed a criminal penalty.
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(d) Directed community service shall be tailored to the bullying action. By way of
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illustration only, and without imposing any limitations, for a student who has bullied a student

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based upon the student’s Jewish faith or heritage, directed community service pursuant to this
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section could be performed at a Holocaust museum.
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(e) Any community service imposed pursuant to the provisions of this section shall need
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to be completed within three (3) months from the date of imposition.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO EDUCATION -- HEALTH AND SAFETY OF PUPILS
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This act would provide a form of restorative justice, designed to address incidents of
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bullying in and around schools, that is based on religious beliefs, sexual orientation, or ethnicity,
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by utilizing directed community service tailored to the bullying action.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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