HB0438 Enrolled LRB095 04096 RAS 24134 b

1     AN ACT concerning education.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     Section 5. The School Code is amended by adding Section
5 27-23.7 as follows:
 
6     (105 ILCS 5/27-23.7)
7     Sec. 27-23.7. Bullying prevention education; gang
8 resistance education and training.
9     (a) The General Assembly finds that bullying has a negative
10 effect on the social environment of schools, creates a climate
11 of fear among students, inhibits their ability to learn, and
12 leads to other antisocial behavior. Bullying behavior has been
13 linked to other forms of antisocial behavior, such as
14 vandalism, shoplifting, skipping and dropping out of school,
15 fighting, using drugs and alcohol, sexual harassment, and
16 sexual violence.
17     The General Assembly further finds that the instance of
18 youth delinquent gangs continues to rise on a statewide basis.
19 Given the higher rates of criminal offending among gang
20 members, as well as the availability of increasingly lethal
21 weapons, the level of criminal activity by gang members has
22 taken on new importance for law enforcement agencies, schools,
23 the community, and prevention efforts.

 

 

HB0438 Enrolled - 2 - LRB095 04096 RAS 24134 b

1     (b) In this Section: ,
2     "Bullying bullying prevention" means and includes
3 instruction in all of the following:
4         (1) Intimidation.
5         (2) Student victimization.
6         (3) Sexual harassment.
7         (4) Sexual violence.
8         (5) Strategies for student-centered problem solving
9     regarding bullying.
10     "Gang resistance education and training" means and
11 includes instruction in, without limitation, each of the
12 following subject matters when accompanied by a stated
13 objective of reducing gang activity and educating children in
14 grades K through 12 about the consequences of gang involvement:
15         (1) Conflict resolution.
16         (2) Cultural sensitivity.
17         (3) Personal goal setting.
18         (4) Resisting peer pressure.
19     (c) Each school district may make suitable provisions for
20 instruction in bullying prevention and gang resistance
21 education and training in all grades and include such
22 instruction in the courses of study regularly taught therein. A
23 school board may collaborate with a community-based agency
24 providing specialized curricula in bullying prevention whose
25 ultimate outcome is to prevent sexual violence. For the
26 purposes of gang resistance education and training, a school

 

 

HB0438 Enrolled - 3 - LRB095 04096 RAS 24134 b

1 board must collaborate with State and local law enforcement
2 agencies. The State Board of Education may assist in the
3 development of instructional materials and teacher training in
4 relation to bullying prevention and gang resistance education
5 and training.
6 (Source: P.A. 94-937, eff. 6-26-06.)