As we have already learned in Blog 1 ”Let`s Talk Cyberbullying Month” and Blog 2, ”Cyberbullying, what is it”, there are actions that are considered bullying, and some that are cyberbullying. In the United States, cyberbullying is punishable under civil and criminal laws. In Texas, one of the methods of punishing abusers is the enforcement of ”David`s Law.” David`s Law was a law originally passed as Senate Bill 179, and its codification into the Texas Education Code and Penal Code created the framework to protect students who were victims of cyberbullying. Click on the link below to find useful information to help you discuss this issue with your children: Schools now have the right to tackle cyberbullying actions that take place off campus. Administrators must alert the parents of the victim of cyberbullying within three days. The law also requires schools to inform parents of bullies within a reasonable time. In addition, schools must set up an anonymous reporting system. This way, passers-by can report bullying without fear of the consequences. If your child is being bullied or cyberbullied, the legal forms listed below may be an option to stop them. David`s Legacy continues to advocate for new policies that protect our children. bullying and cyberbullying and promotes mental health resources and suicide prevention programs in Texas. David Molak committed suicide at the age of 16 due to cyberbullying.

To honor his legacy, David`s family worked with friends and legislators to create David`s Law. This legislation modernizes existing anti-bullying laws by allowing for the prosecution of offenders who are cyberbullyed. Two years later, it`s clear that this anti-cyberbullying law has changed schools in Texas. The Texas School Safety Center has developed a number of hypothetical scenarios as a resource to provide additional guidance and serve as an example on how to use the bullying checklist in school. Each of the scenarios provides a hypothetical scenario, then applies each item on the checklist to the situation and ultimately determines whether the action or actions meet the legal definition of bullying under the Texas Education Code. This legislation allows schools to combat and prevent cyberbullying by empowering them to investigate and combat off-campus cyber-assisted bullying when it significantly affects the school environment. ”David`s Law” requires school districts to include cyberbullying in their district bullying policies and inform a child`s parents if they are victims or alleged abusers of bullying. It allows schools to work with law enforcement when serious or life-threatening cyberbullying situations arise. David`s Law gives parents and courts new tools to protect victims of cyberbullying and allows schools and prosecutors to deal with some of the most egregious forms of cyberbullying, such as suicide lure .B. Recognizing bullying as a mental health issue, David`s Law also encourages schools to invest in counselling and rehabilitation services for victims and victims.

bullying abusers. Posted by Jammy Kiggundu, lawyer, social lawyer and cyberbullying expert, 22 Oct 2020 Schools are now eligible to exclude students for serious bullying offences. These serious offences include suicidal incitement, incitement to violence against another student, and posting indecent photos of a student. If a student commits one of these serious crimes, the school can have them expelled. During the 85th Texas Legislature, SB 179 – ”David`s Law” was passed and signed on September 1, 2017. The newly enacted Legislation addresses the harassment, bullying and cyberbullying of a public school student, a charter student or a minor and promotes certain mental health programs for public school students; Strengthen the criminal sanction and provide for a civil remedy. . But why is the law called ”the law of David”? The law is so called because of the life it honors and the motivation behind the movement. David Bartlett Molak, 16, participated on Monday 4. January 2016, in his hometown of San Antonio, Texas, life. David was a son, brother, Eagle Scout and friend to many. David`s passions included hunting, fishing, professional football and various games with his family.

In the last months before his death, David became a repeated target of relentless cyberbullying. The Molak family describes David`s experience as David ”overwhelmed by despair after being constantly harassed, humiliated and threatened by a group of students via text messages and social media.” Senate Bill 179 classifies cyberbullying as a Class A offense. This allows courts to issue subpoenas and expose people who post anonymously online. The law also requires public schools to intervene when cyberbullying behaviour is suspected. Parents of students who harass others through cyberbullying can also be held accountable if they could have intervened but did not. .