Cyberbullying and the Law – what you can do

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Cyberbullying Law – in your region

Laws, legal and quasi-legal provision by country

What to quote and use when you complain to law enforcement or police about online and social media harassment, cyberbullying, stalking or threats.

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The United States

Alabama

• Ala. Code § 13A-11-8

For schools and students:

• The Alabama Student Harassment Prevention Act – HB 0216

Alaska

• Alaska Stat. §§ 11.41.260, 11.41.270

For schools and students:

• House Bill 482 (2006): Sec. 14.33.200. Harassment, intimidation, and bullying policy.
  Statutes
  ALASKA STAT. § 11.61.120 anti-harassment statute.

Arizona

• Ariz. Rev. Stat. § 13-2923, Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 13-2916, 13-2921

For schools and students:

• H.B. 2415 –  Includes harassment, bullying, and intimidating with the use of electronic technology.
• SB 1266
  H.B. 2368 (2005)
• Note: Godaddy.com is based in Scottsville, Arizona.

Arkansas

• Ark. Code § 5-41-108, Ark. Code § 5-41-108

For schools and students:

• HB 1072
• Cyberbullying crime law.
  Cyberbullying is a Class B misdemeanor.
  Cyberbullying Research Center

California

• Cal. Civil Code § 1708.7, Cal Penal Code § 646.9,  Cal. Penal Code §§ 422,  653.2,  653m

For schools and students:

• AB 9 “Seth’s Law”
  AB 1156
  AB 746
  SB 719 (Bullying Prevention for School Safety and Crime Reduction Act of 2003); Chapter 828.
  2001 Cal. Stats., A.B. 79, Chap. 646
  AB 86 2008 Code §32261 (g)

Colorado

• Colo. Rev. Stat. §§ 18-602, 18-9-111, Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-9-111

For schools and students:

• HB 1036
• HB 11-1254
  SB 01-080
• Section 22-32-109.1(2)(a)(I), C.R.S. (2000); “Safe School Plan.”
  Section 22-32-109.1(2)(a)(I) through (X), C.R.S. (2002).

Connecticut

• Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53-181d (2012 Public Act 114), 53a-183 , Conn. Gen. Stat. § 53a-182b, 53a-183

For schools and students:

• S.B. 1138
  H.B. 5826
  SHB 5425; Statutes § 10-222d

Delaware

• Del. Code tit. 11 § 1311

For schools and students:

• HB NO. 7
• 14 Delaware Code 4112(D)

Florida

• Fla. Stat. § 784.048 , Fla. Stat. § 784.048

For schools and students:

• H.B. 699 s. 1006.147: School Safety

Georgia

• Georgia Code § 16-5-90

For schools and students:

• Proposed: “The End to Cyberbullying Act”
  SB 250

Hawaii

• Hawaii Rev. Stat. § 711-1106

For schools and students:

• H.B. 688
  SB2094

Idaho

• Idaho Stat. §§ 18-7905, 18-7906

For schools and students:

• H.B. 750, “Jared’s Law”

Illinois

• 720 ILCS §§ 5/12-7.5, 740 ILCS 21/10 , 720 ILCS §§ 135/1-2, 135/1-3, 135/2

For schools and students:

• H.B. 3281
  S.B. 3266 , 105 ILCS 5/27-13.3, 5/27-23.7, 5/10-20.14, 105 ILCS 135/1-2 
  H.B. 6391

Indiana

• Ind. Code § 35-45-2-2

For schools and students:

• HB 1276
  Senate Enrolled Act No. 285
  IC 20-30-5.5; IC 20-33-8-0.2; IC 20-33-8-13.5; IC 5-2-10.1-2; IC 5-2-10.1-11.12

Iowa

• Iowa Code § 708.7

For schools and students:

• HB 1276, 2007 Code §280.28

Kansas

• Kan. Stat. § 21-3438

For schools and students:

• H.B 2758,  Annotated §72-8256
  H.B. 2310

Kentucky

• Ky. Rev. Stat. § 508.130 to .150

For schools and students:

• HB 370
  H.B. 91

Louisiana

• La. Rev. Stat. §§ 14:40.2, 14:40.3

For schools and students:

• H.B. 1259, Act 989
  H.B. 364, Act 230
  H.B. 1458
  La. Rev. Stat. Ann. §§ 14:40.7, 17:416.13

Maine

• Me. Rev. Stat. tit 17A § 210A (see 2007 Me. Laws, Ch. 685, sec. 3)

For schools and students:

• “An Act to Prohibit Cyberbullying”
  P.L. 2005, Ch. 307
  Statute Title 20-A 1001.15H
  SP035501

Maryland

• Md. Code tit. 3 § 3-805

For schools and students

• H.B. 199, Code §7-424, 7-424.1

Massachusetts

• Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265 § 43, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265 § 43A

For schools and students:

• CHAPTER 92 AN ACT RELATIVE TO BULLYING IN SCHOOLS. (see Senate, No. 2404)
  S.B. 261 (S2323)

Michigan

• Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 750.411h, 750.411i, Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.411s

For schools and students

• Act 451 of 1976 (MCL 380.1 – 380.1852) by adding sec. 1310b: “Matt’s Safe School Law” or “Act 451”.
  House Bill 6468
• EO 46

Minnesota

• Minn. Stat. § 609.749, Minn. Stat. § 609.795

For schools and students:

• S.B. 646, Statutes §121A.0695
  S.F. No. 971

Mississippi

• Miss. Code §§ 97-45-15, 97-45-17, 97-3-107, Miss. Code § 97-29-45

For schools and students

• House Bill 552
  S.B.2015
  S.B. 2390

Missouri

• Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.225, Mo. Rev. Stat. § 565.090

For schools and students

• HB 1543
• Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 160 (160.775)
• S.B. 818

Montana

• Mont. Code Ann. § 45-5-220, Mont. Code Ann. § 45-8-213

For schools and students:

• Harassment statute

Nebraska

• Neb. Rev. Stat.§ 28-311.02, Neb. Rev. Stat.§ 28-311.02

For schools and students:

• LB 205
• Proposed law

Nevada

• Nev. Rev. Stat. § 200.575

For schools and students:

• S.B. 163 (chapter 188)

New Hampshire

• N.H. Rev. Stat. § 644:4

For schools and students:

• HB 1523

New Jersey

• N.J. Stat. § 2C:12-10, 2C:12-10.1
• SB 993

For schools and students

• P.L.2010, CHAPTER 122; “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act
  S.B. 993, New Jersey Statutes §18A:37-14

New Mexico

• N.M. Stat. § 30-3A-3

For students and schools:

• NMAC 6.12.7

New York

• New York Penal Law § 240.30

For schools and students:

• SENATE BILL – S 1987-B (A 3661-C)
• SB 7051
  Law to Encourage the Acceptance of All Differences (LEAD)
  Commissioner’s Regulation 100.2 (l) and Education Law 2801 and Education Law 2801-a

North Carolina

• N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 14-196.3, N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-196(b)

For schools and students:

• SB 526
• HB 1261
• Senate Bill 707
  § 115C-407.15. Bullying and harassing behavior.
  § 14-458.1. Cyber-bullying; (computer-related crime)

North Dakota

• N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-17-07

For schools and students:

• House Bill 1465
  Code 12.1.17-07

Ohio

• Ohio Rev. Code § 2903.211, Ohio Rev. Code §§ 2917.21(A), 2913.01(Y)

For schools and students:

• H.B. 116 (Jessica Logan Act)
  H.B. 276

Oklahoma

• Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1173, Okla. Stat. tit. 21 § 1172

For schools and students:

• S.B.1941, 70 Oklahoma Statutes §24-100.3
  H.B. 2215/ S.B. 992, amend 70 O.S. 2001, Section 24-100

Oregon

• Or. Rev. Stat. §§ 163.730 to 163.732, Or. Rev. Stat. § 166.065

For schools and students:

• Senate Bill 1555
  Chapter 647 Oregon Laws 2007 339.351.

Pennsylvania

• Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. § 18 2709.1, Pa. Cons. Stat. tit. 18 § 2709(a), 2709(f)

For schools and students:

• H.B. 1067

Rhode Island

• R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-52-4.2 , R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-52-4.2

For schools and students:

• General Laws §16-21-26
• SB 2012

South Carolina

• S.C. Code §§ 16-3-1700(C), 16-3-1700(F), S.C. Code §§ 16-3-1700(B), 16-3-1700(C), 16-17-430

For schools and students:

• H.B. 3573, South Carolina Code §59-63-120, §59-63-140

South Dakota

• S.D. Cod. Laws § 22-19A-1, S.D. Cod. Laws § 49-31-31

For schools and students:

• Bullying law

Tennessee

• Tenn. Code § 39-17-315, Tenn. Code § 39-17-308

For schools and students:

• Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-1014 (2012) 49-6-1014.
  Tenn. Code Ann. § 49-6-1015 (2012) 49-6-1015.
  S.B.113

Texas

• Tx. Penal Code § 33.07

For schools and students:

• H.B. 1942
  H.B. 283; Tex. Educ. Code Ann 25.0342, 37.217, 37.001, 37.083

Utah

• Utah Code § 76-5-106.5, Utah Code § 76-9-201

For schools and students:

• SB 304
  HB325 and HB325
  State Board of Education Policy R277-613-1

Justhost.com is located in and subject to the laws of Utah.

Vermont

• Vt. Stat. tit. 13 §§ 1061, 1062, 1063, Vt. Stat. tit. 13 § 1027

For schools and students:

• 16 V.S.A. § 11
• Statute § 1162
  2004 Vermont Act 117; 16 V.S.A. § 11(a)(32); An Act was enabled in memory of Ryan Patrick Halligan

Virginia

• Va. Code § 18.2-60, Va. Code § 18.2-152.7:1

For schools and students:

• H.B.1624

Washington

• Wash. Rev. Code §§ 9A.46.110, 9.61.260, Wash. Rev. Code §§ 9A.46.020, 10.14.020

For schools and students:

• RCS 28A.300.285
  S.B. 5288, 2007: Revised Code of Washington §28A.300.285
• HB 2801

West Virginia

• W. Va. Code § 61-3C-14a

For schools and students:

• Bullying and harassment.
  H.B. 3023, Chap. 103 (W.Va. Code Ann.18-2C-3)

Wisconsin

• Wis. Stat. § 947.0125

For schools and students:

• Wisconsin Act 309 (SENATE BILL 154)

Wyoming

• Wyo. Stat. § 6-2-506 

For schools and students:

• HB 223 – Safe School Climate Act; Orders the Safe School Climate Act that all School Districts must have a policy in regard
  to the bullying (including electronically) and the punishments are the discretion of the Schools.

District of Columbia

• D.C. Act 19-384—Youth Bullying Prevention Act of 2012.

Guam

• X.G.C.A. tit. 9 §§ 19.69, 19.70

All states & Federal

• 1923  Meyer v. Nebraska. “Liberty guaranteed by the 14^th Amendment includes not only freedom from restraint, but also, the right to work, to raise a family and, “generally to enjoy those privileges long recognized as essential to the orderly pursuit of happiness by free men.”
• HR1966 Megan Meier Cyberbullying Prevention Act.

The United Kingdom

• Law enforcement attitudes in the UK to harassment and cyberbullying vary widely depending on the local police force. For example Greater Manchester Police and the Metropolitan Police have successfully prosecuted online stalkers, whereas one police force told one of our clients: “We don’t police the internet.” Persistence is key when dealing with law-enforcement in the UK.

Laws

• Protection from Harassment Act 1997  – best to use for prolonged cases.
• Communications Act 2003  – best for Twitter and Facebook comments.
• Malicious Communications Act 1988  – good to use for prolonged social media cases
• Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994
• Prosecutorial guidance on social media harassment (CPS)

Canada

• Ontario: Safe School Act, Bill 81