Sec. 13.5. (a) Discipline rules adopted by the governing body of a school corporation under section 12 of this chapter must:

(1) prohibit bullying; and

(2) include:

(A) provisions concerning education, parental involvement, and intervention;

(B) a detailed procedure for the expedited investigation of incidents of bullying that includes:

(i) appropriate responses to bullying behaviors, wherever the behaviors occur;

(ii) provisions for anonymous and personal reporting of bullying to a teacher or other school staff;

(iii) timetables for reporting of bullying incidents to the parents of both the targeted student and the bully, in an expedited manner;

(iv) timetables for reporting of bullying incidents to school counselors, school administrators, the superintendent, or law enforcement, if it is determined that reporting the bullying incident to law enforcement is necessary;

(v) discipline provisions for teachers, school staff, or school administrators who fail to initiate or conduct an investigation of a bullying incident; and

(vi) discipline provisions for false reporting of bullying; and

(C) a detailed procedure outlining the use of follow-up services that includes:

(i) support services for the victim; and

(ii) bullying education for the bully.

(b) The discipline rules described in subsection (a) may be applied regardless of the physical location in which the bullying behavior occurred, whenever:

(1) the individual committing the bullying behavior and any of the intended targets of the bullying behavior are students attending a school within a school corporation; and

(2) disciplinary action is reasonably necessary to avoid substantial interference with school discipline or prevent an unreasonable threat to the rights of others to a safe and peaceful learning environment.

(c) The discipline rules described in subsection (a) must prohibit bullying through the use of data or computer software that is accessed through a:

(1) computer;

(2) computer system;

(3) computer network; or

(4) cellular telephone or other wireless or cellular communications device.

(d) This section may not be construed to give rise to a cause of action against a person or school corporation based on an allegation of noncompliance with this section. Noncompliance with this section may not be used as evidence against a school corporation in a cause of action.

(e) A record made of an investigation, a disciplinary action, or a follow-up action performed under rules adopted under this section is not a public record under IC 5-14-3.

(f) The department shall periodically review each policy adopted under this section to ensure the policy's compliance with this section.

As added by P.L.106-2005, SEC.7. Amended by P.L.180-2011, SEC.2; P.L.285-2013, SEC.6; P.L.211-2018(ss), SEC.9.