HB560 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kurt Wallace

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Student harassment prevention, reassignment of students to another school, Education Department to post model policy on Internet website, immunity for reporting harassment, Student Harassment Prevention Act renamed the Alex Moore Anti-Bullying Act, Secs. 16-28B-1, 16-28B-4, 16-28B-5, 16-28B-9 am'd.

Summary

The bill renames the Student Harassment Prevention Act to the Alex Moore Anti-Bullying Act and strengthens rules to prevent harassment, including transferring harassers, posting a model policy online, and protecting people who report harassment from civil liability.

What This Bill Does

Renames the act to the Alex Moore Anti-Bullying Act and updates related sections of the code. Allows a student who harasses others to be reassigned to a different school to separate the harasser from the victim. Requires the Department of Education to post its model harassment policy and related reporting forms and procedures on its website, and to provide training resources. Grants civil liability immunity to individuals who report harassment in good faith and outlines comprehensive reporting, investigation, and disciplinary procedures for schools.

Who It Affects

• Students, including harassment victims, those who report harassment, and harassers, by providing protections, reporting options, potential reassignment, and specified consequences.
• Local boards of education, school administrations, the Department of Education, and parents, who must develop, post, and enforce the model policy; train staff; notify families; and ensure funding compliance if not following the policy.

Key Provisions

• Renames the Student Harassment Prevention Act the Alex Moore Anti-Bullying Act.
• Allows reassignment of a harassing student to another school to separate the harasser from the victim.
• directs the Department of Education to post its model harassment policy on its website and provide model complaint forms and related procedures.
• Provides immunity from civil liability for individuals reporting harassment if done in good faith.
• Requires schools to develop plans such as peer mediation and to establish reporting, investigation, and disciplinary procedures in their policies.
• Prohibits harassment, violence, and threats on school property, buses, or school-sponsored events and prohibits reprisals or false accusations.
• Requires teachers and staff to report suspected harassment to the principal and imposes an age-appropriate range of consequences including discipline or counseling.
• Requires local boards to notify parents when harassment occurs or when a student is a victim, and to publish policy and penalties in schools and handbooks.
• For grades 6-12, requires a third harassment offense in a school year to result in assignment to an alternative school.

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