HB 131 (Reps. Dickerson, Drenner, Waites, and Thomas - D)

The End to Cyberbullying Act

Amends O.C.G.A. § 20-2-751.4 relating to policies in public schools prohibiting bullying in such a way as to include acts though the use of electonic communication.  The term applies to acts which occur on school property, on school vehicles, at designated school bus stops, or at school-related functinos or by use of data or software that is assessed through a computer, computer system, computer network or other electronic technology of a local school system.  The term also applies to acts of cyberbullying which occur through the use of electronic communication, whether or not such electronic act originated on school property or with school equipment, if the electronic communication:

      (1) is directed specifically at students or school personnel,

      (2) is maliciously intended for the purpose of threatening the safety of those specified or substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school, and

      (3) creates a reasonable fear of harm to the students' or school personnel's person or property or has a high likelihood of succeeding in that purpose.

For purposes of this Code Section, electronic communication includes but is not limited to any transfer of signs, signals, writings, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo electronic or photo optical system.