HF751

This proposed legislative bill in Minnesota focuses on improving school policies related to the handling of prohibited conduct, such as bullying or harassment. Key points of the bill include:

1. Designating a specific staff member in each school as the primary contact for dealing with reports of prohibited conduct.
2. Requiring school employees who see or know about prohibited conduct to take action to address it.
3. Establishing a process for starting an investigation into reported prohibited conduct within three school days.
4. Mandating that schools must notify the parents of both the victim and the perpetrator within 24 hours of a reported incident.
5. Prohibiting retaliation against individuals who report or provide information about prohibited conduct, and setting consequences for those who engage in retaliation.
6. Allowing anonymous reporting of incidents, but not solely relying on anonymous reports to discipline students.
7. Providing information about available community resources to all parties involved.
8. Including measures in a child with a disability’s education plan to prevent or respond to prohibited conduct, if applicable.
9. Publicizing the policy to staff and students through various school materials.
10. Requiring ongoing professional development for school personnel to effectively prevent and address prohibited conduct.
11. Allowing those accused of misconduct to present a defense during investigations.
12. Informing students and parents about their rights to access and contest data related to an incident under state and federal laws.

This bill aims to ensure a swift and effective response to incidents of prohibited conduct in schools, protecting victims and ensuring fair treatment for all parties involved.