1 New Paragraph; Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention; Bullying Resolution Conference Required. Amend RSA 193-F:4 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:

II-a. The school board of each school district and the board of trustees of a chartered public school shall, no later than 6 months after the effective date of this paragraph, adopt a written policy requiring the scheduling of bullying resolution conferences following the occurrence of a bullying or cyberbullying incident pursuant to paragraph I. The policy shall contain, at a minimum, the following components:

(a) Within 10 days of notification pursuant to subparagraph II-a(j), the school bullying officer, appointed pursuant to RSA 194-F:11, shall schedule a bullying resolution conference with the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the perpetrator and applicable school personnel. The conference shall occur even if the parent(s) or guardian(s) decline to participate or fail to attend.

(b) Following the conference, the bullying officer shall develop a written bullying action plan that details the actions that shall be taken by the perpetrator, the perpetrator's parent(s) or guardians(s), and school personnel, and which shall include, at a minimum:

(1) Attendance by the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the perpetrator in at least one instruction course that includes:

(A) The definition of bullying;

(B) Prevention strategies;

(C) Ways to talk to the perpetrator about bullying; and

(D) Evidence-based methods for resolving the underlying causes of bullying.

(2) Participation of the perpetrator in an age-appropriate anti-bullying class or workshop that includes:

(A) The impacts of bullying;

(B) The root causes of bullying; and

(C) Constructive conflict resolution strategies and coping mechanisms.

(c) Upon the subsequent occurrence of an incident investigated by the bullying officer and determined to be an act of bullying by the perpetrator against another pupil, the bullying officer shall notify the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the perpetrator and the bullying officer shall file a petition alleging that the perpetrator is a child in need of services pursuant to RSA 169-D:2, II(f).

2 New Section; Bullying Officer; Appointment; Duties. Amend RSA 193-F by inserting after section 10 the following new section:

193-F:11 Bullying Officer; Appointment; Duties.

I. School boards and boards of trustees of chartered public schools shall appoint bullying officers for their districts or chartered public schools.

II. Bullying officers shall, when directed by the school board or board of trustees, enforce the policies adopted by the school board or board of trustees pursuant to RSA 193-F:4, II-a.

III. A bullying officer or school official shall not file a petition alleging that the child is in need of services pursuant to RSA 169-D:2, II(f) until all steps in the school district's or chartered public school's intervention process under RSA 193-F:4, II-a have been followed.

3 New Subparagraph; Definitions; Child in Need of Services; Bullying Perpetrator. Amend RSA 169-D:2, II by inserting after subparagraph (e) the following new subparagraph:

(f) Who has committed a subsequent act of bullying or cyberbullying investigated by the bullying officer and determined to be an act of bullying by the perpetrator against another pupil.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.

1 New Paragraph; Pupil Safety and Violence Prevention; Bullying Resolution Conference Required. Amend RSA 193-F:4 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph:

II-a. The school board of each school district and the board of trustees of a chartered public school shall, no later than 6 months after the effective date of this paragraph, adopt a written policy requiring the scheduling of bullying resolution conferences following the occurrence of a bullying or cyberbullying incident pursuant to paragraph I. The policy shall contain, at a minimum, the following components:

(a) Within 10 days of notification pursuant to subparagraph II-a(j), the school bullying officer, appointed pursuant to RSA 194-F:11, shall schedule a bullying resolution conference with the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the perpetrator and applicable school personnel. The conference shall occur even if the parent(s) or guardian(s) decline to participate or fail to attend.

(b) Following the conference, the bullying officer shall develop a written bullying action plan that details the actions that shall be taken by the perpetrator, the perpetrator's parent(s) or guardians(s), and school personnel, and which shall include, at a minimum:

(1) Attendance by the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the perpetrator in at least one instruction course that includes:

(A) The definition of bullying;

(B) Prevention strategies;

(C) Ways to talk to the perpetrator about bullying; and

(D) Evidence-based methods for resolving the underlying causes of bullying.

(2) Participation of the perpetrator in an age-appropriate anti-bullying class or workshop that includes:

(A) The impacts of bullying;

(B) The root causes of bullying; and

(C) Constructive conflict resolution strategies and coping mechanisms.

(c) Upon the subsequent occurrence of an incident investigated by the bullying officer and determined to be an act of bullying by the perpetrator against another pupil, the bullying officer shall notify the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the perpetrator and the bullying officer shall file a petition alleging that the perpetrator is a child in need of services pursuant to RSA 169-D:2, II(f).

2 New Section; Bullying Officer; Appointment; Duties. Amend RSA 193-F by inserting after section 10 the following new section:

193-F:11 Bullying Officer; Appointment; Duties.

I. School boards and boards of trustees of chartered public schools shall appoint bullying officers for their districts or chartered public schools.

II. Bullying officers shall, when directed by the school board or board of trustees, enforce the policies adopted by the school board or board of trustees pursuant to RSA 193-F:4, II-a.

III. A bullying officer or school official shall not file a petition alleging that the child is in need of services pursuant to RSA 169-D:2, II(f) until all steps in the school district's or chartered public school's intervention process under RSA 193-F:4, II-a have been followed.

3 New Subparagraph; Definitions; Child in Need of Services; Bullying Perpetrator. Amend RSA 169-D:2, II by inserting after subparagraph (e) the following new subparagraph:

(f) Who has committed a subsequent act of bullying or cyberbullying investigated by the bullying officer and determined to be an act of bullying by the perpetrator against another pupil.

4 Effective Date. This act shall take effect January 1, 2026.