House Bill 263 (2017) AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 37-11-67, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO CLARIFY CONDUCT THAT IS CONSIDERED BEING BULLYING BEHAVIOR; TO AMEND SECTION 37-11-69, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE THE PROVISIONS TO BE INCLUDED IN A SCHOOL DISTRICTS’ ANTI-BULLYING POLICIES; TO REQUIRE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO POST THE PROPER PROCEDURE FOR REPORTING BULLYING ON THEIR INTERNET WEBSITE; TO AMEND SECTIONS 37-3-101 AND 37-3-103, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO ADOPT A POLICY ON STUDENT SUICIDE PREVENTION, TO PRESCRIBE STANDARDS FOR THE REQUIRED POLICY AND TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH TO DEVELOP IN-SERVICE TRAINING STANDARDS FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION EDUCATION; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2017/html/HB/0200-0299/HB0263SG.htm
House Bill 552 makes impersonating someone for the purposes of harming, intimidating, threatening, or defrauding another person (online or off) a misdemeanor (link defunct). Signed by the governor on March 11, 2011.
S.B.2015; passed July 2010; http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/documents/2010/pdf/SB/2001-2099/SB2015SG.pdf: “…bullying or harassing behavior” is any pattern of gestures or written, electronic or verbal communications, or any physical act or any threatening communication, or any act reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, or on a school bus…”
S.B. 2390 (2001); “2001 Miss. Laws, S.B. 2390 – Directs the State Board of Education to develop a list of recommended conflict resolution and peer mediation programs that address responsible decision making, the causes and effects of school violence and harassment, cultural diversity, and nonviolent methods for resolving conflict, including peer mediation. Requires the board to make the list available to local school administrative units and school buildings by the beginning of the 2002-2003 school year.”
Mississippi Code 37-11-67 Bullying or harassing behavior in public schools prohibited.
(1) As used in this section, “bullying or harassing behavior” is any pattern of gestures or written, electronic or verbal communications, or any physical act or any threatening communication, or any act reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, or on a school bus, and that:
(a) Places a student or school employee in actual and reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property; or
(b) Creates or is certain to create a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits. For purposes of this section, “hostile environment” means that the victim subjectively views the conduct as bullying or harassing behavior and the conduct is objectively severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would agree that it is bullying or harassing behavior.
(2) No student or school employee shall be subjected to bullying or harassing behavior by school employees or students.
(3) No person shall engage in any act of reprisal or retaliation against a victim, witness or a person with reliable information about an act of bullying or harassing behavior.
(4) A school employee who has witnessed or has reliable information that a student or school employee has been subject to any act of bullying or harassing behavior shall report the incident to the appropriate school official.
(5) A student or volunteer who has witnessed or has reliable information that a student or school employee has been subject to any act of bullying or harassing behavior should report the incident to the appropriate school official.
(6) Conduct described in subsection (1) of this section is considered bullying if that conduct interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of a school.
