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An Act To Promote Safe Schools through the Creation of the Safe School Climate Council
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§18-F  is enacted to read:
 
18-F.     
Sec. 2.  20-A MRSA §6555  is enacted to read:
§ 6555. Safe School Climate Council
 
1.  Council established.     The Safe School Climate Council, as established in Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 18-F and referred to in this section as "the council," shall develop model policies to address bullying, harassment and overall safety in schools.
 
2.  Membership.     The council consists of up to 20 members appointed as follows:
 
A.  A representative of the department, appointed by the commissioner;
 
B.  A representative of the civil rights team project in the Office of the Attorney General, appointed by the Attorney General;
 
C.  A representative of the Maine Principals' Association or successor organization, appointed by the Governor;
 
D.  A representative of the Maine School Management Association or successor organization, appointed by the Governor;
 
E.  A representative of the Maine Education Association, appointed by the Governor;
 
F.  A representative of an organization that advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, appointed by the Governor;
 
G.  One or more members with expertise in bullying prevention, appointed by the Governor; and
 
H.  Representatives of underrepresented groups, including minority communities and immigrant communities, appointed by the Governor.
 
3.  Terms; vacancy.     The members of the council appointed pursuant to subsection 2 serve for 2-year terms and serve until their successors are appointed and qualified. On the expiration of a term of a member under subsection 2, a successor must be appointed to a 2-year term. A member of the council is eligible for reappointment to the council. A vacancy in the council does not impair the right of a quorum of the members to exercise all the rights and perform all the duties of the council. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the membership, the appointing authority shall appoint a replacement member for the remainder of the unexpired term in the same manner as the original appointment was made.
 
4.  Duties.     The council is authorized to meet twice a year. At the first meeting of the council and annually thereafter, the members shall elect from the membership a chair and a vice-chair and shall determine their duties. Beginning in 2020 and biennially thereafter, the council shall report recommendations, including model policies, to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters on topics that include, but are not limited to:
 
A.  Bullying in schools in the State;
 
B.  Harassment in schools in the State;
 
C.  The overall safety of students, staff and faculty in schools in the State;
 
D.  The department's effectiveness in addressing bullying, harassment and overall safety in schools in the State;
 
E.  Access to tools and resources for school administrative units;
 
F.  How incidents of bullying, including cyberbullying as defined in section 6554, subsection 2, paragraph C, are being addressed in schools in the State; and
 
G.  Proposed updates to the Children's Cabinet 2006 report entitled "Maine's Best Practices in Bullying and Harassment Prevention."
 
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Safe School Climate Council, which is authorized to meet twice a year and to present to the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over education matters every 2 years recommendations on model policies to address bullying, harassment and overall safety in schools.