Bill Analyses and Ratings
Bill Information: H0515 – School Anti-Bullying Reporting Requirements
Bill Summary
House Bill 515 amends Idaho Code Section 33-1631 to revise requirements for harassment, intimidation, and bullying policies in schools. The bill extends existing requirements to explicitly include public charter schools alongside school districts, references the statutory definition of bullying found in section 18-917A, and requires state board of education rules to be subject to legislative approval. The bill also removes the annual state-level reporting requirement for bullying incidents.
The most significant change adds a mandatory parental notification requirement for bullying incidents that result in student suspension. Schools must now report such incidents to the parents or legal guardians of both the alleged victim and the alleged offender, while maintaining compliance with federal and state student privacy laws. The bill also clarifies the graduated consequences available for students who commit acts of harassment, intimidation, bullying, violence, or threats of violence.
The legislation includes an emergency clause, making it effective July 1, 2026.
Overall Assessment
This bill receives a total score of +2, reflecting modest positive alignment with the evaluation framework. The primary positive impacts relate to education policy and family rights through enhanced parental notification requirements and increased legislative oversight of state board rules. The bill strengthens parental involvement by mandating that parents of both alleged victims and offenders be notified when bullying incidents result in suspension. Most metrics remain neutral as the bill focuses narrowly on school anti-bullying procedures without addressing broader policy areas.
Rating Breakdown
ARTICLE I. RESPONSIBILITY IN GOVERNMENT (0)
The bill adds language requiring state board of education rules to be 'subject to legislative approval' (lines 20-21), which enhances legislative oversight. However, it also expands regulatory requirements by mandating ongoing professional development for all school staff (lines 17-19). These competing effects result in a neutral impact on government responsibility principles.
ARTICLE II. CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT IN GOVERNMENT (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies and reporting requirements without any provisions relating to elections, voting procedures, primary elections, ranked-choice voting, or citizen participation in government processes. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric's focus areas.
ARTICLE III. EDUCATION (1)
The bill adds a mandatory parental notification requirement (lines 32-37) requiring schools to report bullying incidents resulting in suspension to parents or legal guardians of both the alleged victim and alleged offender. This strengthens parental rights and involvement in their children's education, aligning with the metric's emphasis on parental authority in educational matters.
ARTICLE IV. AGRICULTURE (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies and contains no text relating to agriculture, farming, ranching, agricultural education, water for agriculture, or any agricultural matters. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric.
ARTICLE V. WATER (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies and contains no text relating to water rights, water management, inter-basin transfers, prior appropriation, rivers, dams, or any water-related matters. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric.
ARTICLE VI. NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies and contains no text relating to natural resources, environmental policy, wilderness areas, forest health, federal lands, or any environmental matters. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric.
ARTICLE VII. ENERGY (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies and contains no text relating to energy independence, energy resources, hydroelectric power, petroleum, nuclear energy, electrical rates, or any energy matters. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric.
ARTICLE VIII. IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORIES (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies and contains no text relating to Idaho National Laboratory, nuclear research, technology development, or any INL-related matters. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric.
ARTICLE IX. PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies and contains no text relating to private property rights, property development, eminent domain, or takings. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric's focus on Fifth Amendment protections and property owner rights.
ARTICLE X. STATE AND FEDERAL LANDS (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies and contains no text relating to state or federal land management, federal land ownership, or land administration matters. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric.
ARTICLE XI. WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies and contains no text relating to wildlife, fish and game management, hunting, fishing, wolves, grizzlies, or any wildlife matters. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric.
ARTICLE XII. ECONOMY (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies and contains no text relating to commerce, industry, small business, labor, transportation, or economic development matters. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric.
ARTICLE XIII. HEALTH AND WELFARE (0)
While bullying could tangentially relate to student welfare, the bill does not address healthcare delivery, health insurance, medical conscience rights, or welfare programs as defined in this metric. The focus remains on educational policy and school discipline procedures.
ARTICLE XIV. AMERICAN FAMILY (1)
The bill adds mandatory parental notification requirements (lines 32-37) requiring schools to report bullying incidents resulting in suspension to parents or legal guardians of both the alleged victim and alleged offender. This strengthens parental authority and involvement in matters affecting their children, aligning with the metric's emphasis on parental rights and family integrity.
ARTICLE XV. OLDER AMERICANS (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies for students and contains no text relating to older Americans, retirement, senior services, or any matters affecting elderly populations. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric.
ARTICLE XVI. LAW AND ORDER WITH JUSTICE (0)
While the bill mentions 'juvenile specialty courts' and 'graduated consequences' including 'expulsion' (lines 25-31), these provisions appear to be existing law being retained with minor wording changes. The bill does not substantively address criminal justice, gun rights, or law enforcement matters central to this metric.
ARTICLE XVII. NATIONAL DEFENSE – SECURING THE BORDER (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies and contains no text relating to national defense, military, veterans, border security, terrorism, or any defense matters. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric.
ARTICLE XVIII. ELECTION OF JUDGES AND IDAHO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies and contains no text relating to judicial elections, judge selection, constitutional interpretation, or any judicial matters. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric.
ARTICLE XIX. RELIGIOUS LIBERTY (0)
This bill addresses school bullying policies and contains no text relating to religious freedom, free exercise of religion, or the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. The content is entirely unrelated to this metric's focus on religious liberty protections.