1. (a) Within 90 days of September 14, 2012, the Mayor shall establish a bullying prevention task force.

2. (b)

   1. (1) The task force shall consist of representatives from a diversity of the educational institutions and agencies that will be affected by this subchapter, as well as community representatives, including:

      1. (A) Teachers;
      2. (B) Administrators from educational institutions and agencies;
      3. (C) School mental health professionals;
      4. (D) Parents, and legal guardians;
      5. (E) Youth;
      6. (F) Direct service providers; and
      7. (G) Advocates.
   2. (2) In constituting this task force, the Mayor shall consider geographic and socioeconomic diversity as well as other forms of diversity.

3. (c) The task force shall:

   1. (1) Provide guidance to the Mayor on the implementation of this subchapter;
   2. (2) Within 180 days of September 14, 2012, publicize a model policy, which shall contain each of the components required in § 2-1535.03(b);
   3. (3) Assist educational institutions and agencies with developing policies in accordance with § 2-1535.03;
   4. (4) Compile, and make available to each agency, educational institution, and grantee, a list of free or low-cost methods for establishing the bullying prevention programs authorized in § 2-1535.06;
   5. (5) Within 180 days of receipt of the bullying prevention policies submitted pursuant to § 2-1535.03(c), review each adopted policy for compliance with the requirements of § 2-1535.03(b);
   6. (5A) Appropriately engage parents and legal guardians of youth served by each agency in bullying prevention efforts;
   7. (5B) Provide to each agency and parents or legal guardians a referral list of community-based programs or similar resources that mitigate bullying and address identified behavioral health needs as necessary;
   8. (5C) Provide consultation and review evidence-based school climate data to ensure full implementation of the law; and
   9. (6) Promulgate guidelines to assist the Mayor in evaluating the effectiveness of the bullying prevention policies that have been established.
4. (d) The task force shall disband by August 2018; provided, that at the discretion of the Mayor, a one-year extension may be granted by the Mayor.

History

Sept. 14, 2012, D.C. Law 19-167, § 3, 59 DCR 7820

Oct. 22, 2015, D.C. Law 21-36, § 4132, 62 DCR 10905

Emergency Legislation

For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 4132 of the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Support Emergency Act of 2015 (D.C. Act 21-127, July 27, 2015, 62 DCR 10201).

Effect of Amendments

The 2015 amendment by D.C. Law 21-36 added (c)(5A), (5B), and (5C) and made a related change; and substituted “by August 2018” for “2 years after its initial meeting” in (d).

Section References

This section is referenced in § 2-1535.03.