Int. No. 641
By Council Member Eugene
Title
A Local Law to amend the New York city charter, in relation to establishing an office to combat bullying
Body
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of the New York city charter is amended by adding a new section 19-a to read as follows:
? 19-a. Office to combat bullying. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings:
Bullying or harassment. The term "bullying" means the creation of a hostile environment by conduct or by threats, intimidation or abuse, whether verbal or nonverbal, including cyberbullying, that include, but are not limited to, conduct or threats, intimidation or abuse based on a person's actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex, and that:
1. Has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or mental, emotional or physical well-being;
2. Reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for such student's physical safety;
3. Reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause physical injury or emotional harm to a student; or
4. Creates or would foreseeably create a risk of substantial disruption within the school environment, even if it occurs off school property, where it is foreseeable that the conduct, threats, intimidation or abuse might reach school property.
Cyberbullying. The term "cyberbullying" means bullying or harassment that occurs through any form of electronic communication.
Director. The term "director" means the director of the office to combat bullying.
School. The term "school" means any public or private school in the city that contains any combination of grades from and including pre-kindergarten th...
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