SF0049 Safe school and climate act amendments.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill did not pass, so there is uncertainty about its implementation and impact.

Safe School and Climate Act Amendments

The bill amends the Safe School and Climate Act to clarify its application, modify requirements for school districts, provide professional development guidance, and set an effective date.

What This Bill Does

Clarifies that the act applies to all people involved in schools, including students, staff, volunteers, and administrators.

Requires each school district to create a policy against harassment, intimidation, or bullying by involving parents, guardians, employees, volunteers, students, administrators, and community members.

Specifies that districts must continuously review and update their policies as needed.

Who It Names or Affects

School districts

Students

Teachers and staff

Volunteers

Terms To Know

Professional Development Guidance

Training and support for teachers to help them identify and prevent bullying.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill did not pass during the session.

It is unclear how many school districts will adopt and enforce these policies effectively.

There are no details on what specific professional development guidance will be provided by the Department of Education.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

SF0049SS001

Standing Committee • Senate Education Committee

Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes the term 'preparation program' to 'professional development guidance' in a specific part of the bill.

Replaces the phrase 'preparation program' with 'professional development guidance'.

The full impact and context of this change are not clear without additional information about what these terms mean within the bill.

Bill History

2023-02-27 House

H COW:H Did not consider for COW

2023-02-06 House

H Placed on General File

2023-02-06 House

H04 - Education:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0

2023-02-03 House

H Introduced and Referred to H04 - Education

2023-01-13 House

H Received for Introduction

2023-01-13 Senate

S 3rd Reading:Passed 30-1-0-0-0

2023-01-12 Senate

S 2nd Reading:Passed

2023-01-11 Senate

S COW:Passed

2023-01-11 Senate

S Placed on General File

2023-01-11 Senate

S04 - Education:Recommend Amend and Do Pass 4-0-1-0-0

2023-01-10 Senate

S Introduced and Referred to S04 - Education

2022-12-28 Senate

S Received for Introduction

2022-12-09 LSO

Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

23LSO-0243
2023
STATE OF WYOMING
23LSO-0243
ENGROSSED
3.0

SENATE FILE NO. SF0049

Safe school and climate act amendments.

Sponsored by: Joint Education Interim Committee

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the safe school and climate act; clarifying application of the act; modifying requirements; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 21
‑
4
‑
313(a)(intro) and 21
‑
4
‑
314(a), (b)(iii), (iv), (ix), (c) and (e) are amended to read:

21
‑
4
‑
313.

Prohibition against harassment, intimidation or bullying; reporting to school officials.

(a)

No person
, including but not limited to students, school or district employees, administrators or volunteers,
shall engage in:

21
‑
4
‑
314.

School district implementation; state policies, training and technical assistance.

(a)

Not later than December 31, 2009,
E
ach school district shall adopt a policy prohibiting
, at a minimum,
harassment, intimidation or bullying at school.

The school district shall involve parents and guardians, school employees, volunteers, students, administrators and community representatives in the process of creating the policy.
The policy shall address harassment, intimidation or bullying occurring or received at school committed by any person, including but not limited to students, school or district employees, administrators and volunteers.
Policies created under this section shall be continuously reviewed and may be revised as necessary.

(b)

The policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation or bullying shall include, without limitation:

(iii)

Consequences and appropriate remedial actions for persons
, including but not limited to students, school or district employees, administrators and volunteers,
committing acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying or engaging in reprisal or retaliation;

(iv)

Procedures for reporting and documenting acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying, including a provision for reporting anonymously.

However, formal disciplinary action shall not be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report.

The procedures shall identify the appropriate school personnel responsible for receiving a report and investigating a complaint
, including procedures for investigation of anonymous reports
;

(ix)

A process for discussing the district's harassment, intimidation or bullying policy with students
,

school or district employees, administrators and volunteers
; and

(c)

To assist local school districts in developing a policy under subsection (b) of this section, the department of education shall not later than September 1,
2009
2023
, develop model policies applicable to grades kindergarten through twelve (12) and teacher
preparation program standards
professional development guidance
on the identification and prevention of bullying.

In addition, the department shall provide necessary training programs and technical assistance to districts in carrying out this act.

(e)

Information regarding the school district's policy against harassment, intimidation or bullying shall be incorporated into each district's professional development programs and shall be provided to volunteers and other noncertified employees of the district who have
significant
contact with students.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2023
.

(END)

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SF0049