Connecticut Foundation
for Environmentally Safe Schools

Public Act 02-119

HB 5425, An Act Concerning Bullying Behavior in Schools and Concerning the Pledge of Allegiance, became effective July 1 2002 as PA 02-119. The bill builds on the Safe Learning Act passed in the 2001 Legislative Session that provided grant dollars to school districts to develop strategies to address bullying and anti-violence in schools. The current bill requires all school boards to develop a policy (1) addressing bullying and (2) ensuring that time is available during each school day for students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance. The bill defines bullying as "repeated, overt acts by one or more students on school grounds or at a school-sponsored activity that are intended to ridicule, humiliate, or intimidate another student" Complete text of PA 02-119.
(Summary from http://www.cga.state.ct.us/coc/Children%20and%20Families%20Legislation%202002.htm)