§ 16-21-30. Dating violence policy.
(a) As used in this section:
(1) "At school� means in a classroom, on or immediately adjacent to school premises, on
a school bus or other school-related vehicle, at an official school bus stop, or at
any school-sponsored activity or event whether or not it is on school grounds.
(2) "Dating partner� means any person, regardless of gender, involved in an intimate relationship
with another primarily characterized by the expectation of affectionate involvement
whether casual, serious, or long-term.
(3) "Dating violence� means a pattern of abusive or coercive behaviors used to exert power
and control over a current or former dating partner. Behaviors may occur online, in
person, or through the use of technology. Abuse may be physical, verbal, emotional,
sexual, financial, or psychological and includes threats, isolation, and intimidation.
(b) The department of education shall develop a model dating violence policy to assist
school districts in developing policies for dating violence reporting and response.
The model policy shall be issued on or before April 1, 2008.
(c) Each school district shall establish a specific policy to address incidents of dating
violence involving students at school by December 1, 2008. Each school district shall
verify compliance with the department of education on an annual basis through the
annual school health report.
(1) The policy shall include, but not be limited to: a statement that dating violence
will not be tolerated; dating violence reporting procedures; guidelines to responding
to at school incidents of dating violence; and discipline procedures specific to the
incidents.
(2) To ensure notice of the school district's dating violence policy, the policy shall
be published in any school district policy and handbook that sets forth the comprehensive
rules, procedures, and standards of conduct for students at school.
(d) Each school district shall provide dating violence training to all administrators,
teachers, nurses, and mental health staff at the middle and high school levels. Upon
the recommendation of the administrator, other staff may be included or may attend
the training on a volunteer basis. The dating violence training shall include, but
not be limited to: basic principles of dating violence; warnings signs of dating violence;
and the school district's dating violence policy, to ensure that they are able to
appropriately respond to incidents of dating violence at school. Thereafter, this
training shall be provided yearly to all newly hired staff deemed appropriate to receive
the training by the school's administration.
(e) Each school district shall inform the students' parents or legal guardians of the
school district's dating violence policy. If requested, the school district shall
provide the parents or legal guardians with the school district's dating violence
policy and relevant information. It is strongly recommended that the school district
provide parent awareness training.
(f) Each school district shall collect data regarding instances of student misconduct
that are considered dating violence. As part of the usual course of discipline data
submission to the department of education, each school district shall specify when
a particular infraction is also considered dating violence.
(g) This section does not prevent a victim from seeking redress under any other available
law, either civil or criminal. This section does not create or alter any tort liability.