Bill Summary
This bill aims to amend the existing Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to establish a grant program that will support states in creating anti-bullying task forces. These task forces will be responsible for studying, addressing, and reducing bullying in elementary and secondary schools. The bill also recognizes the role of educators in preventing bullying and the detrimental effects of a hostile school environment on student success and health. The grant funds will be used to conduct a study on bullying policies, provide education for teachers, parents, and students, and track incidents of violence and self-harm related to bullying. Each state's task force will be composed of a variety of individuals, including educators, parents, students, mental health professionals, and representatives from LGBTQ organizations. The task forces will submit an annual report to the Chief Education Officer of their state and the Secretary of Education with recommendations for legislation and best practices for addressing and reducing bullying.
Possible Impacts
1. This bill could affect students who are victims of bullying by establishing a grant program that supports efforts to reduce bullying in schools. It could lead to the creation of anti-bullying task forces in each state that study and address bullying, potentially creating a safer and more supportive environment for students.
2. The legislation could also affect teachers and school staff by highlighting their role in bullying prevention and providing funding for education on recognizing and addressing bullying. This could lead to increased awareness and better strategies for handling bullying incidents.
3. The bill specifically addresses the bullying of LGBTQ+ students, acknowledging the high rates of harassment and bullying they face. This could have a significant impact on the LGBTQ+ community by potentially creating safer and more inclusive school environments.
[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5286 Introduced in House (IH)]
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116th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5286
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to
establish a grant program that will support efforts at the State level
to establish anti-bullying task forces to study, address, and reduce
bullying in elementary and secondary schools, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
December 3, 2019
Mr. Krishnamoorthi introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on Education and Labor
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to
establish a grant program that will support efforts at the State level
to establish anti-bullying task forces to study, address, and reduce
bullying in elementary and secondary schools, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Between one in four and one in three students in the
United States report being bullied at school, and over 70
percent of young people say they have seen bullying in their
schools.
(2) Since most instances of bullying take place on school
grounds, school staff and teachers play an instrumental role in
bullying prevention.
(3) Research shows that engaged educators who are
supportive of all students help to reduce the overall presence
of bullying and harassment on school grounds.
(4) 87.3 percent of transgender students report feeling
unsafe at school, and nine out of ten students who identify as
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) report
being harassed and bullied every year.
(5) Hostile school environments have a detrimental effect
on the academic success and health of students.
(6) Law in effect before the date of the enactment of this
Act does not sufficiently address bullying prevention, and
governments and educators in every State have a responsibility
to ensure State and local education systems have processes in
place for students to be able to learn in a safe environment,
regardless of their actual or perceived race, color, national
origin, sex, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity,
or religion.
SEC. 2. STATE ANTI-BULLYING TASK FORCE REQUIREMENT.
Subpart 2 of part F of title VIII of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7881 et seq.) is amended by adding at
the end the following:
``SEC. 8549D. STATE ANTI-BULLYING TASK FORCE GRANTS.
``(a) Anti-Bullying Task Force Grant Program.--The Secretary shall
carry out a program to make grants to each State to establish and
implement a task force to study, address, and reduce bullying in
elementary schools and secondary schools.
``(b) Use of Funds.--Each State task force established under a
grant under this section shall use the grant funds to conduct a study
on bullying in the elementary schools and secondary schools of such
State that includes--
``(1) policies of the local educational agencies in such
State with respect to bullying;
``(2) teacher, parent, and student education with respect
to bullying; and
``(3) the incidents of student violence and self-harm as a
result of bullying.
``(c) Membership.--
``(1) Chair.--Each Chief Education Officer of a State shall
designate one individual to serve as the chair of the task
force of such State.
``(2) Composition.--Each State shall designate at least one
individual from each of the following categories to serve on
the task force of such State:
``(A) At least one teacher at elementary schools
and secondary schools.
``(B) At least one school administrator.
``(C) At least one parent of students.
``(D) At least one K-12 student.
``(E) At least one guidance counselor.
``(F) At least one child psychologist.
``(G) At least one paraprofessional.
``(H) At least one lawyer.
``(I) At least one representative from a community-
based organization who specializes in providing
supportive services to students who identify as
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer.
``(J) Professionals who specialize in providing
support services to students who identify as lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer.
``(K) At least one individual from the Sate
Education Agency office focused on school improvement
and school climate.
``(L) Additional individuals, as determined by the
chair of the task force.
``(3) Terms of members.--
``(A) In general.--Each member of a task force of
State shall be appointed for the duration of the
existence of such task force.
``(B) Vacancies.--A vacancy on a task force shall
be filled in the manner in which the original
designation was made under paragraph (2).
``(4) Discretionary coordination.--A task force of a State
may coordinate activities under this section with other boards
and commissions of such State.
``(d) Report to Chief Education Officer.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date on
which the State submits the study required under subsection
(b), the State task force of such State shall submit a final
report to the Chief Education Officer of such State and the
Secretary of Education containing--
``(A) the annual findings and conclusions of the
task force;
``(B) the recommendations of the task force for
legislation or administrative actions; and
``(C) best practices with respect to bullying in
elementary schools and secondary schools that includes
recommendations for how--
``(i) to address and reduce bullying;
``(ii) to best educate all relevant school
staff on recognizing bullying; and
``(iii) parents can best address and
discuss with their children the early warning
signs of bullying.
``(2) Publication.--Each State task force shall make the
final report submitted under paragraph (1) publicly
available.''.
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