Existing law prohibits a pupil from being suspended from school or recommended for expulsion, unless the superintendent of the school district or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has committed an act from a list of specified acts, including an act of bullying, which is defined as any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or by means of an electronic act, directed toward one or more pupils that has or can be reasonably predicted to have one or more specified effects. Existing law requires suspension to be imposed only when other means of correction, including, among other things, a conference between school personnel, the pupil’s parent or guardian, and the pupil, fail to bring about proper conduct.

This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact future legislation that would, among other things, require that a pupil and the parent or guardian of a pupil who engages in repeated acts of cyberbullying or is suspended for cyberbullying participate in a program of rehabilitative cyberbullying education, counseling, or training.