SB104 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Cyber-bullying of students and school employees, crime created, penalties, restitution, reporting requirement, deferred prosecution and expungement authorized

Summary

SB104 creates a cyber-bullying crime for students against other students or school employees, with penalties, reporting requirements, and options for deferred prosecution and expungement.

What This Bill Does

It would make certain cyber-bullying acts by a student a Class C misdemeanor and include restitution. It also allows prosecutors to defer prosecution and place the student on probation, with discharge and possible expungement if terms are met. School employees would be required to report cyber-bullying incidents and would have immunity from civil liability for reporting. The bill also notes a local-funding constitutional exemption because it creates a new crime and sets a future effective date.

Who It Affects

• Students who engage in cyber-bullying would face a Class C misdemeanor, may owe restitution, and could be eligible for deferred prosecution and expungement if conditions are met.
• School employees would be required to report cyber-bullying incidents and would have immunity from civil liability for their reports.

Key Provisions

• Creates the crime of cyber-bullying by a student against another student or school employee and defines acts that qualify (e.g., fake profiles, posting private information or images, unauthorized data access, coordinated harassment).
• Establishes penalties: Class C misdemeanor for the student, plus restitution and the possibility of deferred prosecution with probation and eventual discharge and expungement of the record.
• Requires school employees to report cyber-bullying incidents and grants reporters immunity from civil liability for making such reports.
• Defines key terms (access, computer system, data, profile, school employee, student) for the statute.
• Provides a local-funding constitutional exemption because the bill creates a new crime; sets the effective date as the first day of the third month after 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

Cyber-bullying