STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
9846
IN ASSEMBLY
February 14, 2018
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BARRETT -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to establish a task force to explore the effects of cyber-bully-
ing in New York state and potential measures to address such effects
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. A task force is hereby established to conduct a comprehen-
2 sive study on the effects of, and potential methods to address, cyber-
3 bullying. The scope of such study shall include:
4 a. processes that school districts can use to develop a policy that
5 prohibits cyber-bullying, such as a process that includes representation
6 of parents or guardians, school employees, volunteers, students, admin-
7 istrators, or community representatives;
8 b. procedures for school districts to implement that assist individ-
9 uals in reporting an act of cyber-bullying;
10 c. procedures for school districts to implement to ensure prompt and
11 thorough investigations of reports of cyber-bullying;
12 d. identifying existing staff that may be able to assist a school
13 district in responding to an incident of cyber-bullying, such as counse-
14 lor services, support services, or intervention services;
15 e. the potential use of a statement in a cyber-bullying policy that
16 prohibits reprisals or retaliation against any person who reports an act
17 of cyber-bullying and the consequence and appropriate remedial action
18 for a person who engages in reprisal or retaliation;
19 f. how often a school district should conduct a reevaluation and
20 review of its cyber-bullying policy;
21 g. additional methods school districts can use, such as grants, to
22 fund a program regarding cyber-bullying;
23 h. identifying the most common victims of cyber-bullying by age,
24 ethnicity, religion, gender, or any other identifying characteristic the
25 members of the task force deem relevant;
26 i. determining the most common mediums used in cases of cyber-bully-
27 ing, including but not limited to, text messages, websites, and social
28 media;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14297-01-8
A. 9846 2
1 j. identifying the social and psychological effects of cyber-bullying
2 on individuals;
3 k. measures other states or legislative bodies have taken to address
4 cyber-bullying;
5 l. drafting model regulations that may be promulgated by this state to
6 address cyber-bullying; and
7 m. drafting model policies, in conjunction with provisions stated in
8 this section, that may be implemented by a school district to address
9 cyber-bullying.
10 § 2. a. The task force shall consist of seven members to be appointed
11 as follows:
12 (1) three members appointed by the governor;
13 (2) two members appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
14 and
15 (3) two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
16 b. The governor shall designate one of the appointees as the chair of
17 the task force.
18 c. The members of the task force shall receive no compensation for
19 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
20 incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act.
21 d. All appointments shall be made no later than thirty days after the
22 effective date of this act. All vacancies shall be filled by the
23 appointing authority.
24 § 3. The task force shall report its findings, conclusions, and recom-
25 mendations to the governor, temporary president of the senate, and
26 speaker of the assembly within one hundred eighty days after the effec-
27 tive date of this act and annually thereafter for the following three
28 years.
29 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
