125th MAINE LEGISLATURE
LD 1237 LR 614(02)
An Act To Prohibit Bullying in Schools
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "   "
Committee: Education and Cultural Affairs
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
             
Fiscal Note
State Mandate - Unfunded
State Mandates
Required Activity Unit Affected Local Cost
Requires school boards to adopt policies and procedures to address bullying, including cyberbullying, and for isolating a violator of a protection from harassment order from the recipient of a protection from harassment order when the protection from harassment order arises from certain violations. School Significant statewide
The required local activities in this bill may represent a State mandate pursuant to the Constitution of Maine.  Unless General Fund appropriations are provided to fund at least 90% of the additional costs or a Mandate Preamble is amended to the bill and two-thirds of the members of each House vote to exempt this mandate from the funding requirement, municipalities may not be required to implement these changes.
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Defines bullying to include written, oral or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture directed at a student or students.  Requires school administrative units to address every incident of bullying that takes place at school or on school grounds, at any school-sponsored or school-related activity or event, while students are being transported to or from school or school sponsored activities or events, through the use of technology or an electronic device owned, leased or used by a school district or school or that takes place elsewhere if the bullying also infringes on the rights of the victim at school.