A new law that will take effect on July 1 could put school bullies behind bars.
HB 2590, which was sponsored by State Representative Lowell Russell (R-Vonore), “makes bullying and cyber-bullying offenses subject to the same penalties as harassment; requires an officer to make a report of bullying and notify a parent or guardian when [the] victim is a minor,” according to its summary.
Harassment is at least a Class A misdemeanor in Tennessee, according to Justia.
A Class A misdemeanor is punishable by up to 11 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.
“‘Bullying'” is defined in this bill as an act that substantially interferes with a student’s educational benefits, opportunities, or performance; and if the act takes place off school property or outside of a school-sponsored activity, it is directed specifically at a student or students and has the effect of creating a hostile educational environment or otherwise creating a substantial disruption to the education environment or learning process; or if the act takes place on school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity, on school-provided equipment or transportation or at any official school bus stop…” according to the summary of the bill.
For charges to be filed, the result of the bullying must be any of the following:
- Physically harming a student or damaging a student’s property
- Knowingly placing a student or students in reasonable fear of physical harm to the student or damage to the student’s property
- Causing emotional distress to a student or students
- Creating a hostile educational environment
The Tennessee Star reached out to several sheriff’s departments around the state to see how they would go about enforcing the new law, but none returned requests for comment.
Public schools in Tennessee are typically staffed with School Resource Officers who are county sheriff’s department members.
Under current state law, school districts are only required to have an official policy against bullying and harassment; the consequences of bullying are determined by the school district.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on Twitter/X.
Yet more unnecessary, vague laws which will need to be amended for clarification. This bill couldn’t be more poorly written or more subject to abuse.
Bullies have been around forever. The difference is that they were taken care of by their peers in the past. Now the victims require a sugar daddy government to try to cure the problem. This is a terrible bill. Tennessee state government has lost its cotton pickin’ mind.
Some awfully mushy and slippery slope ground that would be tread on to have such a bill become Law.