What's happening
This bill requires the creation of a statewide, toll-free hotline to report school bullying, with 24/7 availability and immediate referrals to authorities.
Why it matters
Creates a centralized, easily accessible way for students, parents, and staff to report bullying. , which could lower barriers to reporting and increase accountability in schools statewide.
Allows for anonymous reporting and multiple communication options (calls and, if possible, texts). , encouraging more people—especially students who may fear retaliation—to come forward about bullying incidents.
Mandates immediate notification to appropriate authorities (including law enforcement and emergency responders) for serious or criminal situations. , aiming to ensure rapid response to threats to student safety or criminal acts.
Empowers the state education department to set up procedures and coordinate with other agencies. , potentially leading to more consistent handling, follow-up, and tracking of bullying cases across public and private schools.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create School Bullying Hotline
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
13 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to education
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Create School Bullying Hotline
In Senate Committee · Education · Sponsor Diane J. Savino
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9822
IN ASSEMBLY
February 14, 2018
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ -- read once and referred to the Committee on Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to the establishment of a statewide toll-free hotline for reporting instances of bullying in schools
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 115 to read as follows:
§ 115. Toll-free statewide bullying hotline. 1. The department shall establish a statewide, toll-free telephone number (a "hotline") to receive reports of bullying in schools. The hotline shall receive reports of allegations of reportable incidents twenty-four hours per day, seven days a week. The hotline shall accept anonymous calls and, if feasible, accept text messages. The department shall provide information about such hotline to each public and private school in the state.
2. When any allegation that could reasonably constitute a reportable incident is received by the hotline, the hotline shall accept and immediately transmit notice of the report orally and electronically to any appropriate state agencies or local social services office. Whenever a telephone call or electronic transmission to the hotline alleges an act or circumstances that may constitute a criminal offense or an immediate threat to an individual's health, safety or welfare, the hotline shall convey, by the most expedient means available, the information contained in such call or transmission to the appropriate law enforcement agency or district attorney and, to the extent necessary, the appropriate emergency responder, and the relevant state agency or local social services office.
3. The department is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations to facilitate the implementation and operation of the hotline, including but not limited to, procedures for timely and accurate referrals to other state agencies or entities that may have investigative or oversight authority regarding reported incidents.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14683-01-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.