Assembly Bill No. 459–Assemblymen Parks, Leslie, Williams, Bache, Anderson, Arberry, Buckley, Cegavske, Chowning, Claborn, de Braga, Dini, Freeman, Giunchigliani, Goldwater, Koivisto, Manendo, McClain, Mortenson, Neighbors, Ohrenschall, Parnell, Perkins, Price and Smith

 

Joint Sponsors: Senators Titus, Wiener, Rawson,
Care and Coffin

 

CHAPTER..........

 

AN ACT relating to education; prohibiting harassment and intimidation in public schools; requiring each school district to disseminate related information to pupils; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN

SENATE AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

   Section 1. Chapter 388 of NRS is hereby amended by adding thereto

 the provisions set forth as sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of this act.

   Sec. 2.  As used in sections 2 to 7, inclusive, of this act, unless the

 context otherwise requires, the words and terms defined in sections 3

 and 4 of this act have the meanings ascribed to them in those sections.

   Sec. 3.  “Harassment” means a willful act or course of conduct that

 is not otherwise authorized by law and is:

   1.  Highly offensive to a reasonable person; and

   2.  Intended to cause and actually causes another person to suffer

 serious emotional distress.

   Sec. 4.  “Intimidation” means a willful act or course of conduct that

 is not otherwise authorized by law and:

   1.  Is highly offensive to a reasonable person; and

   2.  Poses a threat of immediate harm or actually inflicts harm to

 another person or to the property of another person.

   Sec. 5.  The legislature declares that:

   1.  A learning environment that is safe and respectful is essential for

 the pupils enrolled in the public schools in this state to achieve academic

 success and meet this state’s high academic standards;

   2.  Any form of harassment or intimidation in public schools

 seriously interferes with the ability of teachers to teach in the classroom

 and the ability of pupils to learn;

   3.  The intended goal of the legislature is to ensure that:

   (a) The public schools in this state provide a safe and respectful

 learning environment in which persons of differing beliefs,

 characteristics and backgrounds can realize their full academic and

 personal potential; and

   (b) All administrators, principals, teachers and other personnel of the

 school districts and public schools in this state demonstrate appropriate

 behavior on the premises of any public school by treating other persons,

 including, without limitation, pupils, with civility and respect and by

 refusing to tolerate harassment or intimidation; and

   4.  By declaring its goal that the public schools in this state provide a

 safe and respectful learning environment, the legislature is not

 advocating or requiring the acceptance of differing beliefs in a manner

that would inhibit the freedom of expression, but is requiring that pupils

with differing beliefs be free from abuse and harassment.

   Sec. 6.  A member of the board of trustees of a school district, any

 employee of the board of trustees, including, without limitation, an

 administrator, principal, teacher or other staff member, or any pupil

 shall not engage in harassment or intimidation on the premises of any

 public school, at an activity sponsored by a public school or on any

 school bus.

   Sec. 7.  Each school district shall include the text of the provisions of

 sections 3 to 6, inclusive, of this act under the heading “Harassment and

 Intimidation is Prohibited in Public Schools,” within each copy of the

 rules of behavior for pupils that the school district provides to pupils

 pursuant to NRS 392.463.

   Sec. 8.  The provisions of subsection 1 of NRS 354.599 do not apply

 to any additional expenses of a local government that are related to the

 provisions of this act.

 

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