Category
Bullying Protections for Enumerated Groups
Category
Bullying Protections for Enumerated Groups
State law prohibits bullying based on personal characteristics without enumerating protected classes or limits coverage to protected groups.
Mississippi Code 37-11-67 Bullying or harassing behavior in public schools prohibited.
(1) As used in this section, "bullying or harassing behavior" is any pattern of gestures or written, electronic or verbal communications, or any physical act or any threatening communication, or any act reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, or on a school bus, and that:
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(a) Places a student or school employee in actual and reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property; or
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(b) Creates or is certain to create a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits. For purposes of this section, "hostile environment" means that the victim subjectively views the conduct as bullying or harassing behavior and the conduct is objectively severe or pervasive enough that a reasonable person would agree that it is bullying or harassing behavior.