The Legislature declares that:

1. Pupils are the most vital resource to the future of this State;
2. A learning environment that is safe and respectful is essential for the pupils enrolled in the schools in this State and is necessary for those pupils to achieve academic success and meet this State’s high academic Standard;
3. Every classroom, hallway, locker room, cafeteria, restroom, gymnasium, playground, athletic field, school bus, parking lot and other areas on the premises of a school in this State must be maintained as a safe and respectful learning environment, and no form of bullying or cyber-bullying will be tolerated within the system of public education in this State;
4. Any form of bullying or cyber-bullying seriously interferes with the ability of teachers to teach in the classroom and the ability of pupils to learn;
5. The use of the Internet by pupils in a manner that is ethical, safe and secure is essential to a safe and respectful learning environment and is essential for the successful use of technology;
6. It will ensure that: (a) The schools in this State provide a safe and respectful learning environment in which persons of differing beliefs, races, colors, national origins, ancestries, religions, gender identities or expressions, sexual orientations, physical or mental disabilities, sexes or any other distinguishing characteristics or backgrounds can realize their full academic and personal potential; (b) All administrators, teachers and other personnel of the school districts and schools in this State demonstrate appropriate and professional behavior on the premises of any school by treating other persons, including, without limitation, pupils, with civility and respect, by refusing to tolerate bullying and cyber-bullying, and by taking immediate action to protect a victim or target of bullying or cyber-bullying when witnessing, overhearing or being notified that bullying or cyber-bullying is occurring or has occurred; (c) The quality of instruction is not negatively impacted by poor attitudes or interactions among administrators, teachers, coaches or other personnel of a school district or school; (d) All persons in a school are entitled to maintain their own beliefs and to respectfully disagree without resorting to bullying, cyber-bullying or violence; and (e) Any teacher, administrator, coach or other staff member or pupil who tolerates or engages in an act of bullying or cyber-bullying or violates a provision of NRS 388.121 to 388.1395, inclusive, regarding a response to bullying or cyber-bullying against a pupil will be held accountable; and
7. By declaring this mandate that the schools in this State provide a safe and respectful learning environment, the Legislature is not advocating or requiring the acceptance of differing beliefs in a manner that would inhibit the freedom of expression, but is requiring that pupils be free from physical, emotional or mental abuse while at school and that pupils be provided with an environment that allows them to learn.

1. The Office for a Safe and Respectful Learning Environment is hereby created within the Department.
2. The Superintendent of Public Instruction shall appoint a Director of the Office, who shall serve at the pleasure of the Superintendent.
3. The Director of the Office shall ensure that the Office: (a) Maintains a 24-hour, toll-free statewide hotline and Internet website by which any person can report a violation of the provisions of NRS 388.121 to 388.1395, inclusive, and obtain information about anti-bullying efforts and organizations; and (b) Provides outreach and anti-bullying education and training for pupils, parents and guardians, teachers, administrators, coaches and other staff members and the members of a governing body. The outreach and training must include, without limitation: (1) Training regarding methods, procedures and practice for recognizing bullying and cyber-bullying behaviors; (2) Training regarding effective intervention and remediation strategies regarding bullying and cyber-bullying; (3) Training regarding methods for reporting violations of NRS 388.135; and (4) Information on and referral to available resources regarding suicide prevention and the relationship between bullying or cyber-bullying and suicide, including, without limitation, resources for pupils who are members of groups at a high risk of suicide. Such groups include, without limitation, the groups described in subsection 3 of NRS 388.256.
4. The Director of the Office shall establish procedures by which the Office may receive reports of bullying and cyber-bullying and complaints regarding violations of the provisions of NRS 388.121 to 388.1395, inclusive.
5. The Director of the Office or his or her designee shall investigate any complaint that a teacher, administrator, coach or other staff member or member of a governing body has violated a provision of NRS 388.121 to 388.1395, inclusive. If a complaint alleges criminal conduct or an investigation leads the Director of the Office or his or her designee to suspect criminal conduct, the Director of the Office may request assistance from the Investigation Division of the Department of Public Safety.

1. The Department shall, in consultation with the governing bodies, educational personnel, local associations and organizations of parents whose children are enrolled in schools throughout this State, and individual parents and legal guardians whose children are enrolled in schools throughout this State, prescribe by regulation a policy for all school districts and schools to provide a safe and respectful learning environment that is free of bullying and cyber-bullying.

2. The policy must include, without limitation:

   • (a) Requirements and methods for reporting violations of NRS 388.135, including, without limitation, violations among teachers and violations between teachers and administrators, coaches and other personnel of a school district or school;
   • (b) Requirements and methods for addressing the rights and needs of persons with diverse gender identities or expressions; and
   • (c) A policy for use by school districts and schools to train members of the governing body and all administrators, teachers and all other personnel employed by the governing body. The policy must include, without limitation:
   • (1) Training in the appropriate methods to facilitate positive human relations among pupils by eliminating the use of bullying and cyber-bullying so that pupils may realize their full academic and personal potential;
   • (2) Training in methods to prevent, identify and report incidents of bullying and cyber-bullying;
   • (3) Training concerning the needs of persons with diverse gender identities or expressions;
   • (4) Training concerning the needs of pupils with disabilities and pupils with autism spectrum disorder;
   • (5) Methods to promote a positive learning environment;
   • (6) Methods to improve the school environment in a manner that will facilitate positive human relations among pupils; and
   • (7) Methods to teach skills to pupils so that the pupils are able to replace inappropriate behavior with positive behavior.