missouri

HB1583 updates existing definitions of bullying to include aggressive behaviors and requires districts to have an anti-bullying policy in place: http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills161/billpdf/truly/HB1583T.PDF

Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 160 (160.775) -http://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=160.775&bid=33227&hl= 2. “Bullying” means intimidation, unwanted aggressive behavior, or harassment that is repetitive or is substantially likely to be repeated and causes a reasonable student to fear for his or her physical safety or property; substantially interferes with the educational performance, opportunities, or benefits of any student without exception; or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school. Bullying may consist of physical actions, including gestures, or oral, cyberbullying, electronic, or written communication, and any threat of retaliation for reporting of such acts. Bullying of students is prohibited on school property, at any school function, or on a school bus. “Cyberbullying” means bullying as defined in this subsection through the transmission of a communication including, but not limited to, a message, text, sound, or image by means of an electronic device including, but not limited to, a telephone, wireless telephone, or other wireless communication device, computer, or pager.

S.B. 818; http://www.senate.mo.gov/08info/pdf-bill/tat/SB818.pdf; “Currently, harassment is a Class A misdemeanor. Under this act, it is a Class A misdemeanor unless 1) committed by a person twenty-one years of age or older against a person seventeen years of age or younger; or 2) the person has previously committed the crime of harassment. In such cases, harassment is a class D felony.”  http://www.senate.mo.gov/08info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=147