N.J. Stat. § 18A:37-20

Current through L. 2024, c. 80.

Section 18A:37-20 - Appointment of school anti-bullying specialists, coordinator

a. The principal in each school in a school district shall appoint a school anti-bullying specialist. When a school guidance counselor, school psychologist, or another individual similarly trained is currently employed in the school, the principal shall appoint that individual to be the school anti-bullying specialist. If no individual meeting this criteria is currently employed in the school, the principal shall appoint a school anti-bullying specialist from currently employed school personnel. The school anti-bullying specialist shall:

(1) chair the school safety team as provided in section 18 of P.L. 2010, c. 122(C.18A:37-21);

(2) lead the investigation of incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying in the school; and

(3) act as the primary school official responsible for preventing, identifying, and addressing incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying in the school.

b. The superintendent of schools shall appoint a district anti-bullying coordinator. The superintendent shall make every effort to appoint an employee of the school district to this position. The district anti-bullying coordinator shall:

(1) be responsible for coordinating and strengthening the school district's policies to prevent, identify, and address harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students;

(2) collaborate with school anti-bullying specialists in the district, the board of education, and the superintendent of schools to prevent, identify, and respond to harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students in the district;

(3) provide data, in collaboration with the superintendent of schools, to the Department of Education regarding harassment, intimidation, and bullying of students; and

(4) execute such other duties related to school harassment, intimidation, and bullying as requested by the superintendent of schools.

c. The district anti-bullying coordinator shall meet at least twice a school year with the school anti-bullying specialists in the district to discuss and strengthen procedures and policies to prevent, identify, and address harassment, intimidation, and bullying in the district.

N.J.S. § 18A:37-20

Added by L. 2010, c. 122,s. 17, eff. 1/5/2011 (see note).

L. 2010, c. 122,s. 31, states, "This act shall take effect in the first school year following enactment, but the Commissioner of Education may take such anticipatory administrative action in advance thereof as shall be necessary for the implementation of this act."