A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT DIRECTING LOCAL BOARDS OF EDUCATION TO ADOPT POLICIES ON BULLYING.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 115C‑47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:
"§ 115C‑47.  Powers and duties generally.
In addition to the powers and duties designated in G.S. 115C‑36, local boards of education shall have the power or duty:
…
(44)	To Establish a Policy on Bullying. – Local boards of education shall adopt a policy to address bullying. The policy shall include a clear definition of what constitutes bullying, the steps the schools will take to inform students, staff, and parents about the causes of bullying behavior, strategies for preventing bullying including counseling services, procedures for responding to allegations of bullying, the consequences for engaging in bullying, and the steps the schools will take to make students and staff aware of the policy."
SECTION 2.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Public Instruction the sum of twenty‑five thousand dollars ($25,000) for the 2004‑2005 fiscal year to set standards and guidelines for local boards to follow in adopting policies on bullying.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective July 1, 2004.