HIB Definition

Under New Jersey law, “harassment, intimidation, or bullying” means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act or any electronic communication, whether it is a single incident or a series of incidents, that is:

 

A.   Reasonably perceived as being motivated by either ANY ACTUAL or PERCEIVED characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability; OR

 

B.   By any other distinguishing characteristic; and that

 

C.   Takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds (including cyberspace), as provided for in N.J.S.A. 18A:37-15.3, that Substantially Disrupts or Interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other pupils; and that;

 
           (meets one of the following conditions)

D.   A reasonable person should know under the circumstances will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a pupil or damaging the pupil’s property, or placing a pupil in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property; OR

 

E.   Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any pupil or group of pupils in such a way as to cause substantial disruption or interference with, the orderly operation of school; OR

 

F. Creates a Hostile Educational Environment for the pupil by interfering with a pupil’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the pupil.