2011 House Bill 4163 / Public Act 241

Require school bullying policies

Introduced in the House

Feb. 1, 2011

Introduced by Rep. Phil Potvin (R-102)

To require schools to adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying which meets standards specified in the bill, including banning conduct that “motivated by animus or by an actual or perceived characteristic”.

Referred to the Committee on Education

Nov. 10, 2011

Substitute offered by Rep. Phil Potvin (R-102)

To replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance as previously described.

The substitute passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Mark Meadows (D-69)

To require school bullying policies to enumerate specific distinguishing characteristics including sexual orientation in the basis on which bullying is defined.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Lisa Brown (D-39)

To require schools to file annual reports on bullying incidents to the state, and make this information available to the public.

The amendment failed 45 to 61 (details)

Amendment offered by Rep. Dian Slavens (D-21)

To change the definition of bullying to include a communication "that is reasonably perceived to be motivated by animus or by an actual or perceived characteristic".

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Sean McCann (D-60)

To extend school bullying policies and sanctions to electronic communications between students who are not in school.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Lisa Brown (D-39)

To require schools to impose a "zero tolerance" anti-bullying policy.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Bob Constan (D-16)

To not extend to responsible school officials a waiver of legal liability the bill would grant to those who promptly and in good faith report a bullying incident.

The amendment passed by voice vote

Amendment offered by Rep. Phil Cavanagh (D-17)

To authorize bullying sanctions for a communication that causes a student "emotional distress" rather than "substantial" emotional distress and interferes with classroom participation or benefit.

The amendment failed by voice vote

Passed in the House 88 to 18 (details)

To require schools to adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying, but not one enumerating specific characteristics, including gender, race and sexual orientation. This House version does not include the exemption added by the Senate to its bullying bill, Senate Bill 137, for "a statement of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction".

Received in the Senate

Nov. 29, 2011

Amendment offered by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D-6)

To require schools to file annual reports on bullying incidents to the state, and make this information available to the public.

The amendment failed 11 to 26 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Glenn Anderson (D-6)

To require school bullying policies to enumerate specific distinguishing characteristics including sexual orientation in the basis on which bullying is defined.

The amendment failed 11 to 26 (details)

Amendment offered by Sen. Bert Johnson (D-2)

To extend school bullying policies and sanctions to electronic and other communications between students who are not in school.

The amendment failed 12 to 25 (details)

Passed in the Senate 35 to 2 (details)

To require schools to adopt a policy prohibiting harassment, intimidation, or bullying, but not one enumerating specific characteristics, including gender, race and sexual orientation. The bill does not include an exemption previously added by the Senate to its own bullying bill, Senate Bill 137, for "a statement of a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction." That bill will be allowed to die in the House.

Signed by Gov. Rick Snyder

Dec. 6, 2011