HB226 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Patricia Todd

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Student harrassment prevention, definition of harassment expanded to include gender identity or sexual orientation of the student, Sec. 16-28B-3 am'd.

Summary

HB226 would expand school harassment rules to include gender identity and sexual orientation as characteristics that can be the basis for harassment, using the state model policy as the framework.

What This Bill Does

It adds gender identity and sexual orientation of a student or of someone the student associates with to the definition of harassment. Harassment would be recognized when patterns of behavior on school property or at school events are motivated by these characteristics, as described in the department’s or local boards’ model policy, and could include actions that cause fear, interfere with learning, disrupt school operations, create a hostile environment, or are severe, persistent, or pervasive. The bill maintains the existing requirement for the Department of Education to develop a model harassment policy for local boards and sets the policy to be applied by local schools and boards after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Students in Alabama public schools who may experience harassment based on gender identity or sexual orientation, or because of associations with someone who has those characteristics.
• Local boards of education and school systems that would implement or enforce the harassment policy (using the model policy or their own version).
• The State Department of Education, which would continue to develop and provide the model harassment policy.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 16-28B-3 to expand the harassment definition to include gender identity and sexual orientation as characteristics that can motivate harassment.
• Harassment can involve a student or someone the student associates with and must align with categories in the adopted model policy.
• Harassment is defined by a pattern of behavior on school property, a school bus, or at school-sponsored functions that is reasonably perceived as motivated by those characteristics.
• SpecificHarassment factors include causing fear of harm, interfering with educational performance, disrupting the school, creating a hostile environment, or being severe, persistent, or pervasive enough to be intimidating or abusive.
• Key terms such as Department, Local Board, School, and School System are defined to clarify scope, and the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Education Department