HB 7215 — AN ACT CONCERNING SCHOOL CLIMATES.

(iii) creates a hostile environment at school for an individual;

or (iv) infringes on the rights and opportunities of an individual at school;

(10) "Emotional intelligence" means the ability to (A) perceive or recognize emotions in oneself or others;

(B) use emotions to facilitate cognitive activities, including, but not limited to, reasoning, problem solving and interpersonal communication;

(C) understand and label emotions;

and (D) manage emotions in oneself and others;

and (11) "Social and emotional learning" means the process through which children and adults achieve emotional intelligence through competencies, including, but not limited to, self-awareness, self- management, social awareness, relationship skills and reasonable decision-making.

(b) Each local and regional board of education shall develop and implement a safe school climate [plan to address the existence of bullying and teen dating violence in its schools.] policy.

[(1) Enable] (1) [Enable] Promote prevention of and intervention in aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing and the fostering of a positive school climate through the utilization of model school climate standards,LCO such{\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-072155 asof the21 NationalR02-HB.docx School} ClimateSubstitute StandardsBill published LCO No.

45997215 4standards, ofsuch 20as Raisedthe BillNational No.7215School Climate Standards published by the National School Climate Center.Center;

A(2) positiveInclude schoolprevention climatestrategies shallfor bullying and teen dating violence in schools, which may include, but need not be limited to, (A) promoteadoption norms,of values,evidence-based, beliefsdata-driven systems for assessing, implementing and expectationscontinuously improving culturally competent, restorative, social and emotional learning in consultation with or on the recommendation of the Department of Education, (B) school rules and policies that supportprohibit feelingsbullying and teen dating violence and that establish appropriate interventions for those involved in such acts, (C) adequate school employee supervision of social,outdoor areas, hallways, lunchrooms, bathrooms, school buses and other areas where bullying or teen dating violence is likely to occur, (D) culturally competent school-wide training that focuses on restorative practices and social and emotional learning competencies and physicalevidence-based safety;tools to develop such competencies, (E) student and peer-led training, education and support, and (F) promotion of parent or guardian partnership and engagement in fostering a positive school climate through individual or team participation in meetings and trainings;

(B)(3) ensureInclude thatintervention students,protocols theto familiesaddress ofbullying and teen dating violence in schools by (A) enabling students andto anonymously report [acts of bullying] aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing to school employees areand engagedrequire students and respectedthe andparents workor togetherguardians of students to developbe andnotified contributeat the beginning of each school year of the process by which students may make such reports, [(2) enable] (B) enabling the parents or guardians of students to afile sharedwritten reports of [suspected bullying, (3) require] aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing, (C) requiring school vision;employees who witness [acts of bullying] aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing or receive reports of [bullying] aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing to orally notify the safe school climate specialist, described in section 10- 222k, as amended by this act, or another school administrator if the safe school climate specialist is unavailable, not later than one school LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07216 of 21 R02-HB.docx } Substitute Bill No.

(C)7215 encourageday educatorsafter such school employee witnesses or receives a report of [bullying] aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing, and to modelfile a written report not later than two school days after making such oral report, [(4) require] (D) requiring the safe school climate specialist to investigate or supervise the investigation of all reports of [bullying] aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing and nurtureensure attitudesthat such investigation is completed promptly after receipt of any written reports made under this section and that emphasizethe parents or guardians of [the] a student alleged to have [committed an act or acts of bullying] engaged in aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing and the benefitsparents or guardians of the student against whom such [alleged act or acts were] aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing was directed receive prompt notice that such investigation has commenced, [(5) require] (E) requiring the safe school climate specialist or such specialist's designee to review any anonymous reports, except that no disciplinary action shall be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report, [(6) include a prevention and satisfactionintervention gainedstrategy, as defined by section 10-222g, for school employees to deal with bullying and teen dating violence, (7) provide for the inclusion of language in student codes of conduct concerning bullying, (8) require each school] (F) requiring the safe school climate specialist or such specialist's designee, in consultation with the school employee who witnessed or received a report of aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing by a student, to notify the parents or guardians of [students who commit any verified acts of bullying and the parents or guardians of students against whom such acts were directed not later than forty-eight hours after the completion of the investigation described in subdivision (4) of this subsection, (9) require each school to invite the parents or guardians of a student against whom such act was directed to a meeting to communicate to such parents or guardians the measures being taken by the school to ensure the safety of the student against whom such act was directed and policies and procedures in place to prevent further acts of bullying, (10) require each school to invite the parents or guardians of a student who commits any verified act of bullying to a meeting, separate and distinct from learning;the meeting required LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-072157 of 21 R02-HB.docx } Substitute Bill No.

and7215 in subdivision (9) of this subsection, to discuss specific interventions undertaken by the school to prevent further acts of bullying, (11) establish] such student upon a finding that such student committed an act of bullying, not later than forty-eight hours after the completion of an investigation described in subparagraph (D) allowof this subdivision, of the specific interventions in progress or undertaken by the school to prevent further acts of bullying by such student, (G) requiring the safe school climate specialist or such specialist's designee to notify the parents or guardians of a student against whom an act of bullying was directed, not later than forty-eight hours after the completion of an investigation described in subparagraph (D) of this subdivision, of the measures being taken by the school to ensure the safety of such student and the policies and procedures in place at the school to prevent further acts of bullying, (H) establishing a procedure for each personschool to contributedocument and maintain records relating to thereports operationand investigations of suspected bullying in such school and to maintain a list of the number of verified acts of bullying in such school and caremake such list available for public inspection, and annually report such number to the Department of Education, and in such manner as prescribed by the physicalCommissioner environmentof Education, [(12) direct] (I) directing the development of case-by-case interventions for addressing [repeated incidents of] bullying against a single individual, [or recurrently perpetrated] bullying incidents by the school;same individual [that may include both counseling and discipline, (13) prohibit] and, at the discretion of the safe school climate specialist, aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing by the same individual that may not rise to the level of bullying, such as restorative, equity-based, bias-informed, culturally competent, trauma-informed interventions for (i) students found to have engaged in bullying, (ii) students against whom acts of bullying have been committed, (iii) parents and guardians, and (iv) school employees.

(2)Interventions Includemay preventioninclude, strategiesbut fornot bullyingbe andlimited teento, datingreferrals violenceto ina schools,school whichcounselor, maypsychologist include,or butother needappropriate notsocial beor limitedmental to,health (A)service, adoptionplans ofthat evidence-based,address data-drivensafety systemsmeasures forthe assessing,school implementingwill andtake continuouslyto improvingprotect culturallystudents competent,against restorative,further socialacts andof emotionalaggressive learningbehavior inor consultationintentional withharm-doing orand onperiodic follow-ups by the recommendationsafe ofschool theLCO Department{\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07218 of Education;21 R02-HB.docx } Substitute Bill No.

(B)7215 schoolclimate rulesspecialist, and policies(J) thatprohibiting prohibitdiscrimination aggressiveand behaviorretaliation against an individual who reports or intentionalassists harm-in doingthe andinvestigation teenof datingan violenceact andof that[bullying, establish(14) appropriatedirect interventionsthe development of student safety support plans for thosestudents involvedagainst inwhom an act of bullying was directed that address safety measures the school will take to protect such acts;students against further acts of bullying, (15) require] aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing.

(C)(c) adequateNothing schoolin employeethis supervisionsection shall prevent the principal of outdoora areas,school, hallways,or lunchrooms,the bathrooms,principal's schooldesignee, buses[to andnotify] otherfrom areasnotifying wherethe appropriate local law enforcement agency when such principal, or the principal's designee, believes that any acts of bullying or teenaggressive datingbehavior violenceor isintentional likelyharm-doing toconstitute occur;criminal conduct.

(D)[, culturally(16) competentprohibit school-widebullying training(A) thaton focusesschool grounds, at a school-sponsored or school- related activity, function or program whether on restorativeor practicesoff andschool socialgrounds, andat emotionala learningschool competenciesbus stop, on a school bus or other vehicle owned, leased or used by a local or regional board of education, or through the use of an electronic device or an electronic mobile device owned, leased or used by the local or regional board of education, and evidence-based(B) toolsoutside toof developthe school setting if such competencies;bullying (I) creates a hostile environment at school for the student against whom such bullying was directed, or (ii) infringes on the rights of the student against whom such bullying was directed at school, or (iii) substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school, (17) require, at the beginning of each school year, each school to provide all school employees with a written or electronic copy of the school district's safe school climate plan, and (18) require that all school employees annually complete the training described in section 10-220a or section 10-222j.

(E)The studentnotification required pursuant to subdivision (8) of this subsection and peer-ledthe training,invitation educationrequired pursuant to subdivision (9) of this subsection shall include a description of the response of school employees to such acts and support;any consequences that may result from the commission of further acts of bullying.] [(c)] (d) Not later than [September 1, 2014] January 1, 2020, each LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-072159 of 21 R02-HB.docx } Substitute Bill No.

7215 local and (F)regional promotionboard of parenteducation orthat guardianhas partnershipnot andhad engagementa insafe fosteringschool climate [plan] policy, developed pursuant to this section, previously reviewed [and approved] by the Department of Education shall submit a positivesafe school climate through[plan] individualpolicy orto teamthe participationdepartment for review [and approval] in meetingsaccordance andwith trainings;the provisions of section 10-222p, as amended by this act.

(3)[Not Includelater interventionthan protocolsthirty tocalendar addressdays bullyingafter andapproval teenby dating violence in schools under the jurisdictiondepartment of thesuch localsafe orschool regionalclimate boardplan, ofthe] educationEach byboard (A)shall enablingmake studentssuch to[plan] anonymouslypolicy reportavailable [actson ofthe bullying]board's aggressive[and behavioreach orindividual intentionalschool harm-doingin tothe school employeesdistrict's] andInternet requireweb studentssite and theensure parentsthat orsuch guardians[plan] ofpolicy studentsis toincluded bein notifiedthe at[school thedistrict's] beginningboard's publication of eachthe schoolrules, yearprocedures and standards of theconduct processfor byschools whichand studentsin mayall makestudent suchhandbooks reports;and employee manuals.

[,[(d)] (2)(e) enable]On (B)and LCOafter No.July 1, [2012] 2020, and not less than biennially thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall require each school in the district to [complete an assessment using the school climate assessment instruments, including surveys, approved and disseminated by the Department of Education pursuant to section 10- 222h.

4599Each 5local and regional board of 20education Raisedshall Billcollect No.7215the enablingschool climate assessments for each school in the parentsdistrict orand guardianssubmit ofsuch studentsschool toclimate fileassessments writtento reportsthe ofdepartment] [suspectedassess bullying,school (3)climate require]using aggressivea behaviorschool orclimate intentionalassessment harm-doing;instrument.

(C)Such requiring school employeesclimate whoassessment witnessinstrument [actsshall of(1) bullyingbe oran receiveempirically reportsvalidated ofsurvey bullying]that aggressiveprovides behavioran orin-depth intentionalprofile harm-doingof ora receiveschool reportscommunity's ofstrengths aggressiveand behaviorareas orthat intentionalneed harm-doingimprovement, tosuch orallyas notify the safeComprehensive schoolSchool climateClimate specialist,Inventory describedpublished in section 10-222k, as amended by this act, or another school administrator if the safeNational schoolSchool climateClimate specialistCenter, is(2) unavailable,present notgrade-level laterappropriate thanquestions onethat schoolpermit daythe aftercollection such school employee witnesses or receives a report of [bullying]information aggressiveon behaviorstudents' orperspectives intentional harm-doing, and toopinions fileabout athe writtenschool reportclimate, notand later(3) thanprotect twothe schoolanonymity daysof afterrespondents. making such oral report;

[,(f) (4)A require]local (D) requiring the safe school climate specialist to investigate or superviseregional theboard investigation of alleducation reportsmay ofaccept [bullying]private aggressivedonations behaviorfor orthe intentionalpurposes harm-doing and ensure that such investigation is completed promptly after receipt of any written reports made under this sectionsection. and that the parents or guardians of [the] a student alleged to have [committed an act or acts of bullying] engaged in aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing and the parents or guardians of the student against whom such alleged [act or acts were] aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing was directed receive prompt notice that such investigation has commenced;

[, (5) require] (E) requiring the safe school climate specialist or such specialist's designee to review any anonymous reports, except that no disciplinary action shall be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report;

[, (6) include a prevention and intervention strategy, as defined by section 10-222g, for school employees to deal with bullying and teen dating violence, (7) provide for the inclusion of language in student codes of conduct concerning bullying, (8) require each school] (F) requiring the safe school climate specialist or such specialist's designee to notify the parents or guardians of [students who commit any verified acts of bullying and the parents or guardians of students against whom such acts were directed not later than forty-eight hours after the completion of the investigation described in subdivision (4) of this subsection, (9) require each school to invite the parents or guardians of a student LCO No.

4599 6 of 20 Raised Bill No.7215 against whom such act was directed to a meeting to communicate to such parents or guardians the measures being taken by the school to ensure the safety of the student against whom such act was directed and policies and procedures in place to prevent further acts of bullying, (10) require each school to invite the parents or guardians of a student who commits any verified act of bullying to a meeting, separate and distinct from the meeting required in subdivision (9) of this subsection, to discuss specific interventions undertaken by the school to prevent further acts of bullying, (11) establish] a student who is reasonably found to have committed an act of bullying, not later than forty-eight hours after the completion of an investigation described in subparagraph (D) of this subdivision, of specific interventions in progress or undertaken by the school to prevent further acts of bullying;

(G) requiring the safe school climate specialist or such specialist's designee to notify the parents or guardians of a student against whom an act of bullying was directed, not later than forty-eight hours after the completion of an investigation described in subparagraph (D) of this subdivision, of the measures being taken by the school to ensure the safety of such student and the policies and procedures in place at the school to prevent further acts of bullying;

(H) establishing a procedure for each school to document and maintain records relating to reports and investigations of [bullying] aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing in such school and to maintain a list of the number of verified acts of bullying in such school and make such list available for public inspection, and annually report such number to the Department of Education, and in such manner as prescribed by the Commissioner of Education;

[, (12) direct] (I) directing the development of case-by-case interventions for addressing [repeated incidents of] bullying against a single individual, [or recurrently perpetrated] bullying incidents by the same individual [that may include both counseling and discipline, (13) prohibit] and, at the discretion of the safe school climate specialist, aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing by the same individual that may not rise to the level of bullying, provided such interventions may include, but need not be limited to, restorative, equity-based, bias-informed, LCO No.

4599 7 of 20 Raised Bill No.7215 culturally competent, trauma-informed interventions and supports for students found to have engaged in bullying, students against whom acts of bullying have been committed, parents and guardians and school employees.

Interventions and supports may include, but not be limited to, referrals to a school counselor, psychologist or other appropriate social or mental health service, plans that address safety measures the school will take to protect students against further acts of bullying and periodic follow-ups by the safe school climate specialist;

and (J) prohibiting discrimination and retaliation against an individual who reports or assists in the investigation of an act of bullying.

[, (14) direct the development of student safety support plans for students against whom an act of bullying was directed that address safety measures the school will take to protect such students against further acts of bullying, (15) require] (c) Nothing in this section shall prevent the ability of the principal of a school, or the principal's designee, to notify the appropriate local law enforcement agency when such principal, or the principal's designee, believes that any acts of bullying or aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing constitute criminal conduct.

[, (16) prohibit bullying (A) on school grounds, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, function or program whether on or off school grounds, at a school bus stop, on a school bus or other vehicle owned, leased or used by a local or regional board of education, or through the use of an electronic device or an electronic mobile device owned, leased or used by the local or regional board of education, and (B) outside of the school setting if such bullying (i) creates a hostile environment at school for the student against whom such bullying was directed, or (ii) infringes on the rights of the student against whom such bullying was directed at school, or (iii) substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school, (17) require, at the beginning of each school year, each school to provide all school employees with a written or electronic copy of the school district's safe school climate plan, and (18) require that all school employees annually complete the training described in section 10-220a or section 10-222j.

The notification LCO No.

4599 8 of 20 Raised Bill No.7215 required pursuant to subdivision (8) of this subsection and the invitation required pursuant to subdivision (9) of this subsection shall include a description of the response of school employees to such acts and any consequences that may result from the commission of further acts of bullying.] [(c)] (d) Not later than September 1, [2014] 2019, each local and regional board of education that has not had a safe school climate [plan] policy, developed pursuant to this section, previously reviewed [and approved] by the Department of Education shall submit a safe school climate [plan] policy to the department for review [and approval] in accordance with the provisions of section 10-222p, as amended by this act.

[Not later than thirty calendar days after approval by the department of such safe school climate plan, the] The board shall make such [plan] policy available on the board's [and each individual school in the school district's] Internet web site and ensure that such [plan] policy is included in the [school district's] board's publication of the rules, procedures and standards of conduct for schools and in all student handbooks and employee manuals.

[(d)] (e) On and after July 1, [2012] 2019, and not less than biennially thereafter, each local and regional board of education shall require each school in the district to [complete an assessment using the school climate assessment instruments, including surveys, approved and disseminated by the Department of Education pursuant to section 10- 222h.

Each local and regional board of education shall collect the school climate assessments for each school in the district and submit such school climate assessments to the department] assess school climate using a school climate assessment instrument, which may be approved and disseminated by the Department of Education pursuant to section 10-222h, as amended by this act.

Such school climate assessment instrument shall (1) be an empirically validated survey that provides an in-depth profile of a school community's strengths and areas that need improvement, such as the Comprehensive School Climate Inventory published by the National School Climate Center;

(2) present grade-level appropriate questions that permit the collection LCO No.

4599 9 of 20 Raised Bill No.7215 of information on students' perspectives and opinions about the school climate;

and (3) protect the anonymity of respondents.

(f) Funding for the development and implementation of a safe school climate policy may originate from public, private, federal or philanthropic sources.

2.3.

Section 10-222h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2019):2020):

(a)LCO The{\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07210 Department of Education21 shall,R02-HB.docx within} availableSubstitute appropriations,Bill (1)No. document school districts' [articulated needs for technical assistance and training related to safe learning and bullying, (2) collect information on the prevention and intervention strategies used by schools to reduce the incidence of bullying, improve school climate and improve reporting outcomes, (3) develop or recommend model safe school climate plans for grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, and (4) in collaboration with the Connecticut Association of Schools, disseminate to all public schools grade-level appropriate school climate assessment instruments, approved by the department, to be used by local and regional boards of education for the purposes of collecting information described in subdivision (2) of this subsection so that the department can monitor bullying prevention efforts over time and compare each district's progress to state trends.

Such7215 (a) The Department of Education shall, within available appropriations, (1) document school climatedistricts' assessment[articulated instrumentsneeds shallfor (A)technical includeassistance surveysand thattraining containrelated uniformto grade-levelsafe appropriatelearning questionsand thatbullying, (2) collect information abouton students'the perspectivesprevention and opinionsintervention aboutstrategies used by schools to reduce the incidence of bullying, improve school climate atand theimprove school,reporting andoutcomes, (B)(3) allowdevelop studentsor recommend model safe school climate plans for grades kindergarten to completetwelve, inclusive, and submit(4) suchin assessmentcollaboration andwith surveythe anonymously]Connecticut bestAssociation practicesof forSchools, fosteringdisseminate ato positiveall public schools grade-level appropriate school climate assessment instruments, approved by the department, to be used by local and anyregional articulatedboards needsof education for technicalthe assistancepurposes andof trainingcollecting relatedinformation todescribed fosteringin asubdivision positive(2) schoolof climate;this subsection so that the department can monitor bullying prevention efforts over time and compare each district's progress to state trends.

Such school climate assessment instruments shall (A) include surveys that contain uniform grade-level appropriate questions that collect information about students' perspectives and opinions about the school climate at the school, and (B) allow students to complete and submit such assessment and survey anonymously] best practices for fostering a positive school climate and any needs articulated by such districts for technical assistance and training related to fostering a positive school climate, and (2) recommend model safe and positive school climate policies for school districts.

(b) [On or before February 1, 2014, and annually thereafter, the department shall, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, submit a report on the status of its efforts pursuant to this section including, but not limited to, the number of verified acts of bullying in the state, an analysis of the responsive action taken by school districts, an analysis of student responses on the uniform grade-level appropriate questions described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section and any recommendations it may have regarding additional activities or funding to prevent bullying in schools and improve school climate to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07211 of 21 R02-HB.docx } Substitute Bill No.

45997215 10 of 20 Raised Bill No.7215 submit a report on the status of its efforts pursuant to this section including, but not limited to, the number of verified acts of bullying in the state, an analysis of the responsive action taken by school districts, an analysis of student responses on the uniform grade-level appropriate questions described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (4) of subsection (a) of this section and any recommendations it may have regarding additional activities or funding to prevent bullying in schools and improve school climate to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to education and children and to the speaker of the House of Representatives, the president pro tempore of the Senate and the majority and minority leaders of the House of Representatives and the Senate]Senate.] The Department of Education, in consultation with local, state and national experts on social and emotional skills assessment and development, shall, within available appropriations, develop a social and emotional learning assessment instrument to measure individual student attainment of the social and emotional learning competencies.

Such instrument shall (1) measure intrapersonal and interpersonal competencies;competencies, (2) be age and grade level appropriate for children in preschool and grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive, (3) include measures to ensure feasibility of implementation in schools and districts, and (4) assess what children know and are able to do.

(2) be age and grade level appropriate for children in preschool and grades kindergarten to twelve, inclusive;

(3) include measures to ensure feasibility of implementation in schools and districts;

and (4) assess what children know and are able to do.

3.4.

Section 10-222j of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2019):2020):

The Department of Education shall provide, within available appropriations, annual training to school employees, as defined in section 10-222d, as amended by this act, except those school employees who hold professional certification pursuant to section 10-145b unless such school employee who holds professional certification is the LCOdistrict No.safe school climate coordinator [,] or the safe school climate specialist, [or a member of the safe school climate committee, as described in section 10-222k,] on the prevention, identification and response to school bullying and teen dating violence, as defined in section 10-222d, as amended by this act, and the prevention of and response to youth suicide.

4599Such 11training ofshall 20be Raisedculturally Billcompetent No.7215and districtbias-informed safeand schoolfocus climateon coordinatorrestorative [,]practices orand the safesocial school climate specialist, [or a member of the safe school climate committee, as described in section 10-222k,] on the prevention, identification and responseemotional tolearning schoolcompetencies, bullyingincluding, andbut teennot datinglimited violence,to, asself- definedawareness, inself-management, sectionsocial 10-222d,awareness, asrelationship amendedskills by this act, and theLCO prevention{\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07212 of and21 responseR02-HB.docx to} youthSubstitute suicide.Bill No.

Such7215 training shall be culturally competent and bias-informed and focus on restorative practices and the social and emotional learning competencies, including, but not limited to, self- awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision-making and evidence-based tools to develop those competencies.

Such training may include, but not be limited to, (1) developmentally appropriate strategies to prevent [bullying] aggressive behavior andor intentional harm-doing and teen dating violence, [among students in school and outside of the school setting,] (2) developmentally appropriate strategies for immediate and effective interventions to stop [bullying] aggressive behavior andor intentional harm-doing and teen dating violence, (3) [information regarding the interaction and relationship between students committing acts of bullying and teen dating violence, students against whom such acts of bullying and teen dating violence are directed and witnesses of such acts of bullying and teen dating violence, (4)] research findings on [bullying] aggressive behavior andor intentional harm-doing and teen dating violence, such as information about the types of students who have been shown to be at-risk for [bullying] aggressive behavior andor intentional harm-doing and teen dating violence in the school setting, [(5)] (4) information on the incidence and nature of cyberbullying, as defined in section 10-222d, as amended by this act, [(6)] (5) Internet safety issues as they relate to cyberbullying, or [(7)] (6) information on the incidence of youth suicide, methods of identifying youths at risk of suicide and developmentally appropriate strategies for effective interventions to prevent youth suicide.

4.5.

Section 10-222k of the general statutes is repealed and the LCOfollowing No.is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2020):

4599(a) 12For the school year commencing July 1, [2012] 2020, and each school year thereafter, the superintendent of 20each Raisedlocal Billor No.7215regional followingboard isof substitutededucation inshall lieuappoint, thereoffrom (Effectiveamong Julyexisting 1,school 2019):district staff, a district safe school climate coordinator.

(a) For the school year commencing July 1, [2012] 2019, and each school year thereafter, the superintendent of each local or regional board of education shall appoint, from among existing school district staff, a district safe school climate coordinator.

(1) Be responsible for implementing the district's safe school climate [plan] policy, developed pursuant to section 10-222d, as amended by this act, (2) collaborate with the safe schoolLCO climate{\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07213 specialists, described in subsection (b) of this21 section,R02-HB.docx the} boardSubstitute ofBill educationNo. for the district and the superintendent of schools of the school district to foster a positive school climate and prevent, identify and respond to [bullying] aggressive behavior and intentional harm-doing in the schools of the district, and (3) [provide data and information, in collaboration with the superintendent of schools of the district, to the Department of Education regarding bullying, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of section 10-222d and subsection (a) of section 10-222h, and (4) meet with the safe school climate specialists at least twice during the school year to discuss issues relating to bullying in the school district and] collaborate with the social and emotional learning and school climate council established pursuant to subsection (c) of this section to make recommendations concerning amendments to the district's safe school climate [plan] policy.

(b)7215 Forschool theclimate schoolspecialists, yeardescribed commencingin Julysubsection 1,(b) [2012]of 2019,this andsection, eachthe schoolboard yearof thereafter,education for the principaldistrict ofand eachthe school,superintendent orof theschools principal'sof designee,the shallschool servedistrict asto thefoster safea positive school climate [specialist]and coordinatorprevent, identify and shallrespond (1)to [investigatesuspected orbullying supervisein the investigationschools of reportedthe actsdistrict, ofand bullying(3) [provide data and information, in collaboration with the schoolsuperintendent of schools of the district, to the Department of Education regarding bullying, in accordance with the district'sprovisions safeof schoolsubsection climate(b) plan,of (2)section collect10-222d and maintainsubsection records(a) of reportssection 10-222h, and investigations(4) ofmeet with the safe school climate specialists at least twice during the school year to discuss issues relating to bullying in the school,school anddistrict (3)and] actcollaborate aswith the primarysocial schooland officialemotional responsiblelearning forand preventing,school identifyingclimate andcouncil, respondingif any, established pursuant to reportssubsection (c) of bullyingthis insection theto school]make leadrecommendations concerning amendments to the school'sdistrict's positivesafe school climate efforts;[plan] policy.

(2)(b) investigateFor the school year commencing July 1, [2012] 2020, and each school year thereafter, the principal of each school, or the principal's designee, shall serve as the safe school climate [specialist] coordinator and shall (1) [investigate or supervise the investigation of reported acts of bullying in the school in accordance with the district's safe school climate plan, (2) collect and maintain records of reports and investigations of bullying in the school, and (3) act as the primary school official responsible for preventing, identifying and responding to reports of bullying in the school] lead the school's efforts to establish a positive school climate, (2) investigate or supervise the investigation of suspected bullying in the school in accordance with the district's safe school climate policy, and (3) collect and maintain records of investigations of aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing and findings of bullying in the LCOschool. No.

4599(c) 13[(1)] ofFor 20the Raisedschool Billyear No.7215commencing July 1, [2012] 2020, and each school inyear accordancethereafter, with[the principal of each school shall establish a committee or designate at least one existing committee in the district'sschool to be responsible for developing and fostering a safe school climate policy;and addressing issues relating to bullying in the school.

andSuch (3)LCO collect{\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07214 and maintain records of investigations21 ofR02-HB.docx aggressive} behaviorSubstitute andBill intentionalNo. harm-doing and findings of bullying in the school.

(c)7215 [(1)]committee Forshall theinclude schoolat yearleast commencingone Julyparent 1,or [2012]guardian 2019, and each school year thereafter, [the principal of each school shall establish a committeestudent orenrolled designatein atthe leastschool oneappointed existingby committee in the school toprincipal] beeach responsiblelocal for developing and fosteringregional aboard safeof schooleducation climatemay andestablish addressinga issuessocial relatingand toemotional bullyinglearning inand theschool school.climate council.

Such committee shall include at least one parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school appointed by the school principal] each local or regional board of education shall establish a social and emotional learning and school climate council.

The council shall, in consultation with the district safe school climate coordinator, (1) monitor school climate improvement efforts;efforts, (2) identify patterns of aggressive behavior or intentional harm- doing among students in the schools, (3) identify best practices for promoting a positive school climate, (4) identify and pursue resources to educate students, parents and guardians of students, school employees and the community on issues relating to fostering a positive school climate and social and emotional learning in schools, and (5) perform any other duties as determined by the local or regional board of education that are related to the prevention of and intervention in aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing and fostering a positive school climate in the school district.

(2) identify patterns of aggressive behavior and intentional harm-doing among students in the schools;

(3) identify best practices for promoting a positive school climate;

(4) identify and pursue resources to educate students, parents and guardians of students, school employees and the community on issues relating to fostering a positive school climate and social and emotional skills building;

and (5) perform any other duties as determined by the local or regional board of education that are related to the prevention of and intervention of aggressive behavior and intentional harm-doing and fostering a positive school climate in the school district.

(A) Receive copies of completed reports following investigations of bullying, (B) identify and address patterns of bullying among students in the school, (C) implement the provisions of the school security and safety plan, developed pursuant to section 10-222m, regarding the collection, evaluation and reporting of information relating to instances of disturbing or threatening behavior that may not meet the definition of bullying, (D) review and amend school policies relating to bullying, (E) review and make recommendations to the district safe school climate coordinator regarding the district's safe school climate plan based on issues and experiences specific to the school, (F) educate students, school employees and parents and guardians of students on issues relating to bullying, (G) collaborate with the district safe school climate coordinator in the collection of data regarding bullying, in accordance LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07215 of 21 R02-HB.docx } Substitute Bill No.

45997215 14 of 20 Raised Bill No.7215 of information relating to instances of disturbing or threatening behavior that may not meet the definition of bullying, (D) review and amend school policies relating to bullying, (E) review and make recommendations to the district safe school climate coordinator regarding the district's safe school climate plan based on issues and experiences specific to the school, (F) educate students, school employees and parents and guardians of students on issues relating to bullying, (G) collaborate with the district safe school climate coordinator in the collection of data regarding bullying, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of section 10-222d and subsection (a) of section 10-222h, and (H) perform any other duties as determined by the school principal that are related to the prevention, identification and response to school bullying for the school.

5.6.

Section 10-222p of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2019):2020):

Not later than thirty calendar days after receiving such resubmitted plan, the department shall approve or reject such LCOplan. No.

4599 15 of 20 Raised Bill No.7215 plan.

Not later than thirty calendar days after receiving notice of such rejection and the reasons for such rejection, such local or regional board of education shall adopt an appropriate model safe school climate plan, developed or recommended by the department pursuant to subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 10-222h.] [(b)]LCO The{\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07216 Department of Education21 shall,R02-HB.docx in} consultationSubstitute withBill localNo. and regional boards of education, make available on the department's Internet web site [(1) each safe school climate plan that has been approved by the department, (2) a list of the school districts that have an approved safe school climate plan, and (3) a list of the school districts whose safe school climate plans have been rejected and that are in the process of resubmitting their safe school climate plans for approval by the department] a model safe school climate policy developed pursuant to section 10-222d, as amended by this act.

7215 [(b)] The Department of Education shall, in consultation with local and regional boards of education, make available on the department's Internet web site [(1) each safe school climate plan that has been approved by the department, (2) a list of the school districts that have an approved safe school climate plan, and (3) a list of the school districts whose safe school climate plans have been rejected and that are in the process of resubmitting their safe school climate plans for approval by the department] a model safe school climate policy.

6.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2019) Each local and regional board of education shall provide training to school administrators on the prevention of and intervention in discrimination against and targeted harassment of students based on such students' (1) actual or perceived differentiating characteristics, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, academic status, physical appearance or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability;

or (2) association with individuals or groups who have or are perceived to have one or more of such characteristics.

Such training may be delivered in collaboration with one or more organizations offering information and training on identifying, preventing and intervening in protected class discrimination.

Sec.

(NEW) (Effective July 1, 2019) Each local and regional board of education, in consultation with the Department of Education, shall provide to school administrators training materials regarding the prevention of and intervention in discrimination against and targeted harassment of students based on such students' (1) actual or perceived differentiating characteristics, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, academic status, physical appearance or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability, or (2) association with individuals or groups who have or are perceived to have one or more of such characteristics.

Such training materials may be delivered in collaboration with one or more organizations offering training on identifying, preventing and intervening in discrimination including, but not limited to, the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

Sec.

8.

LCO(a) No.Each local or regional board of education shall provide an in- service training program for its teachers, administrators and pupil personnel who hold the initial educator, provisional educator or professional educator certificate.

4599Such 16program ofshall 20provide Raisedsuch Billteachers, No.7215administrators (a)and Eachpupil localpersonnel orwith regionalinformation boardon of(1) educationthe shallnature provideand anthe in-relationship serviceof trainingalcohol programand fordrugs, itsas teachers,defined administratorsin andsubdivision pupil(17) personnelof whosection hold21a-240, theto initialhealth educator,and provisionalpersonality educatorLCO or{\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07217 professionalof educator21 certificate.R02-HB.docx } Substitute Bill No.

Such7215 program shall provide such teachers, administrators and pupil personnel with information on (1) the nature and the relationship of alcohol and drugs, as defined in subdivision (17) of section 21a-240, to health and personality development, and procedures for discouraging their abuse, (2) health and mental health risk reduction education that includes, but need not be limited to, the prevention of risk-taking behavior by children and the relationship of such behavior to substance abuse, pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV-infection and AIDS, as defined in section 19a-581, violence, teen dating violence, domestic violence and child abuse, (3) school violence prevention, conflict resolution, the prevention of and response to youth suicide and the identification and prevention of and response to bullying, as defined in subsection (a) of section 10-222d, as amended by this act, except that those boards of education that implement any evidence-based model approach that is approved by the Department of Education and is consistent with subsection (c) of section 10-145a, sections 10-222d, as amended by this act, [10-222g] and 10-222h, as amended by this act, subsection (g) of section 10-233c and sections 1 and 3 of public act 08- 160, shall not be required to provide in-service training on the identification and prevention of and response to bullying, (4) cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency life saving procedures, (5) the requirements and obligations of a mandated reporter, and (6) the detection and recognition of, and evidence-based structured literacy interventions for, students with dyslexia, as defined in section 10-3d.

8.9.

(a) No claim for damages shall be made against a school employee, as defined in section 10-222d, as amended by this act, who reports, investigates and responds to bullying or teen dating violence, as defined in section 10-222d, as amended by this act, in accordance with the provisions of the safe school climate [plan] policy, described in section 10-222d, as amended by this act, if such school employee was LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07218 of 21 R02-HB.docx } Substitute Bill No.

45997215 17 of 20 Raised Bill No.7215 (a) No claim for damages shall be made against a school employee, as defined in section 10-222d, as amended by this act, who reports, investigates and responds to bullying or teen dating violence, as defined in section 10-222d, as amended by this act, in accordance with the provisions of the safe school climate [plan] policy, described in section 10-222d, as amended by this act, if such school employee was acting in good faith in the discharge of his or her duties or within the scope of his or her employment.

9.10.

(a) Not later than January 1, 2014, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, in consultation with the Department of LCOEducation, No.shall develop school security and safety plan standards.

4599The 18school ofsecurity 20and Raisedsafety Billplan No.7215standards Education,shall be an all-hazards approach to emergencies at public schools and shall developinclude, schoolbut securitynot be limited to, (1) involvement of local officials, including the chief executive officer of the municipality, the superintendent of schools, law enforcement, fire, public health, emergency management and safetyLCO plan{\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07219 standards.of 21 R02-HB.docx } Substitute Bill No.

The7215 school security and safety plan standards shall be an all-hazards approach to emergencies at public schools and shall include, but not be limited to, (1) involvement of local officials, including the chief executive officer of the municipality, the superintendent of schools, law enforcement, fire, public health, emergency management and emergency medical services, in the development of school security and safety plans, (2) a command center organization structure based on the federal National Incident Management System and a description of the responsibilities of such command center organization, (3) a requirement that a school security and safety committee be established at each school, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-222m, (4) crisis management procedures, (5) a requirement that local law enforcement and other local public safety officials evaluate, score and provide feedback on fire drills and crisis response drills, conducted pursuant to section 10-231, (6) a requirement that local and regional boards of education annually submit reports to the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection regarding such fire drills and crisis response drills, (7) procedures for managing various types of emergencies, (8) a requirement that each local and regional board of education conduct a security and vulnerability assessment for each school under the jurisdiction of such board every two years and develop a school security and safety plan for each such school, in accordance with the provisions of section 10-222m, based on the results of such assessment, (9) a requirement that the [safe school climate committee] social and emotional learning and school climate council for each school, established pursuant to section 10-222k, as amended by this act, collect and evaluate information relating to instances of disturbing or threatening behavior that may not meet the definition of bullying, as defined in section 10-222d, as amended by this act, and report such information, as necessary, to the district safe school climate coordinator, described in section 10-222k, as amended by this act, and the school security and safety committee for the school, established pursuant to section 10-222m, and (10) a requirement that the school security and safety plan for each school provide an orientation on such LCOschool No.security and safety plan to each school employee, as defined in section 10-222d, as amended by this act, at such school and provide violence prevention training in a manner prescribed in such school security and safety plan.

4599 19 of 20 Raised Bill No.

7215 school security and safety plan to each school employee, as defined in section 10-222d, as amended by this act, at such school and provide violence prevention training in a manner prescribed in such school security and safety plan.

Sec.LCO {\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-072120 of 21 R02-HB.docx } Substitute Bill No.

10.7215 Sec.

11.

Section 1 Julyfrom 1,passage 2019New 10-222dsection Sec.

2 July 1, 2019 10-222h10-222d Sec.

3 July 1, 20192020 10-222j10-222h Sec.

4 July 1, 20192020 10-222k10-222j Sec.

5 July 1, 20192020 10-222p10-222k Sec.

6 July 1, 20192020 New10-222p section Sec.

7 July 1, 2019 10-220a(a)New section Sec.

8 July 1, 2019 10-222l10-220a(a) Sec.

9 July 1, 2019 10-222n(a)10-222l Sec.

10 July 1, 2019 Repealer10-222n(a) sectionSec. Statement of Purpose:

To11 (1)July require1, local2019 andRepealer regionalsection boardsKID ofJoint educationFavorable toSubst. develop safe school climate policies, (2) require schools to assess school climate, (3) require the Department of Education to develop a social and emotional learning assessment instrument, (4) establish the duties of a safe school climate coordinator, (5) require local and regional boards of education to establish a social and emotional learning and school climate council in place of the existing safe school climate committee, (6) require the Department of Education to develop a model safe school climate policy, and (7) require local and regional boards of education to provide training on the prevention of and intervention in discrimination against and targeted harassment of students.

[ProposedED deletionsJoint areFavorable enclosedLCO in{\\PRDFS1\HCOUSERS\BARRYJN\WS\2019HB-07215- brackets.21 of 21 R02-HB.docx }

Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] LCO No.

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