Resources

Colorado Statutes on Bullying

While bullying in itself is not a crime, harassment is. There are many situations where the two overlap. Here are three laws that support our work at PEER Kindness. You can learn more by clicking on the Colorado Model Policy button below.

Ashawnty's Law

In 2018, the Colorado General Assembly passed Senate Bill 18-151. The short name for the bill is Ashawnty’s Law, named for Ashawnty Davis. Ashawnty was a 10-year-old student in Colorado who died by suicide in 2017, in part, because of her experience being the target of bullying. Ashawnty’s Law tasked CDE with researching the approaches, policies, and practices related to bullying prevention and education used in other states for the purpose of developing the Model Policy to serve as guidance for Colorado school districts. The full text of Ashawnty’s Law can be found in Appendix A. The Model Policy and the results of the research that informed it was first published on the CDE website on July 1, 2019 and is to be updated every three years.

Jack & Cait's Law

In 2021, the Colorado General Assembly passed House Bill 21-1221, Bullying Prevention and Education in Schools, also known as Jack and Cait’s Law. This law is named after Jack Padilla and Caitlyn Haynes both of whom died by suicide, in part, because of their experiences being the target of bullying. Jack and Cait’s Law expands upon Ashawnty’s Law in several ways including, (1) tasking CDE with utilizing a stakeholder process, which must include participation by the parents of students who have been bullied, when updating the Model Policy, (2) requiring the model policy to differentiate between conflict, harassment, and bullying, (3) clarifying the role of cyberbullying during online instruction, and (4) requiring school districts to ensure that their bullying prevention and education policies, at a minimum, incorporate the approaches, policies, and practices outlined in the Model Policy. The full text of Jack and Cait’s Law can be found in Appendix B.

Kiana's Law

The Colorado General Assembly made changes to the state’s anti-harassment laws (C.R.S. 18-9-111) in 2015 in response to the attempted suicide of 14-year-old Kiana Arellano. After experiencing months of cyberbullying, Kiana attempted suicide in 2013 that resulted in a traumatic brain injury and paraplegia. Kiana Arellano’s Law makes it a class 2 misdemeanor to cyberbully others in Colorado when the behavior rises to the level of criminal intent to harass, annoy, or alarm another person. Additionally, Kiana Arellano’s Law states that cyberbullying occurs or is committed at the place where the electronic communication was either made or received.

Read more about Colorado statutes on bullying by clicking on the Colorado Model Policy button.

Bullying by the Numbers:

20%

1 out of 5 students report being bullied.

41%

Students believed bullying would happen again.

15%

Students reported being cyberbullied.

57%

of bullying stops when a peer intervenes.

PACER.org

Additional Resources

Safe2Tell Colorado

MAKE A REPORT

Anonymously report anything that concerns or threatens you, your friends, your family, or your community. We take your reports any time, any day.

You have the power to make a difference.


REASONS TO TELL

We encourage you to come forward as soon as possible when you learn about something that may cause harm to others or yourself. When you see something, say something.

By reaching out to Safe2Tell, you can help someone who is struggling. If your desire is to protect, prevent, or help, send in your report. If you’re unsure whether you should send in a report or not, and you are making a report to protect, prevent, or help, send it in.


HOW IT WORKS

Reports can be submitted by calling 1-877-542-SAFE (7233), using the link on the website, through our mobile app, or by texting S2TCO to 738477.

After you submit your report, watch for any follow up questions, because the more information you share, the better the response to your report will be. Safe2Tell will send your report to appropriate school and/or law enforcement officials and verify report receipt and response.

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