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Current as of January 01, 2025 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
(1) An LEA governing board shall adopt a bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation policy.
(2) The LEA governing board shall:
(a) develop the policy with input from:
(i) students;
(ii) parents;
(iii) teachers;
(iv) school administrators;
(v) school staff; or
(vi) local law enforcement agencies; and
(b) provide protection to a student, regardless of the student's legal status.
(3) The LEA governing board shall include the following components in the policy:
(a) definitions of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation that are consistent with this part;
(b) language prohibiting bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, and abusive conduct;
(c) language prohibiting retaliation as described in Section 53G-9-603;
(d) language prohibiting making a false report of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, or retaliation;
(e) language outlining appropriate punishments for a student who shares a recording of an act of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation in order to impact or encourage future incidents;
(f) as required in Section 53G-9-604, a process for parental notification of:
(i) a student's threat of suicide;
(ii) an incident involving the parent's student; and
(iii) implementation of the school's action plan to address the incident;
(g) a grievance process for a school employee who has experienced abusive conduct;
(h) a requirement that the school or LEA create and implement an action plan for each incident in accordance with Section 53G-9-605.5;
(i) a communication process requiring the school or LEA regularly updates each parent of a student involved in an incident regarding implementation of an action plan, including:
(i) the outcome of the school's or LEA's investigation;
(ii) a discussion of safety considerations for the student who is the subject of the incident; and
(iii) an explanation of the school's or LEA's process for addressing the incident; and
(j) a requirement for a signed statement annually, indicating that the individual signing the statement has received the LEA governing board's policy, from each:
(i) school employee;
(ii) student who is at least eight years old; and
(iii) parent of a student enrolled in the LEA.
(4) An LEA shall, in relation to the policy described in this section:
(a) include a copy in student conduct handbooks;
(b) include a copy in employee handbooks; and
(c) provide a copy to a parent of a student enrolled in the charter school or school district.
(5) A policy may not permit formal disciplinary action that is based solely on an anonymous report of bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, or retaliation.
(6) Nothing in this part is intended to infringe upon the right of a school employee, parent, or student to exercise the right of free speech.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - Utah Code Title 53G. Public Education System--Local Administration § 53G-9-605. Bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation policy - last updated January 01, 2025 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ut/title-53g-public-education-system-local-administration/ut-code-sect-53g-9-605/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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