Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 16-21 - Health and Safety of Pupils
Section 16-21-30. - Dating violence policy.

§ 16-21-30. Dating violence policy.
(a) As used in this section:
(1) “At school” means in a classroom, on or immediately adjacent to school premises, on a school bus or other school-related vehicle, at an official school bus stop, or at any school-sponsored activity or event whether or not it is on school grounds.
(2) “Dating partner” means any person, regardless of gender, involved in an intimate relationship with another primarily characterized by the expectation of affectionate involvement whether casual, serious, or long-term.
(3) “Dating violence” means a pattern of abusive or coercive behaviors used to exert power and control over a current or former dating partner. Behaviors may occur online, in person, or through the use of technology. Abuse may be physical, verbal, emotional, sexual, financial, or psychological and includes threats, isolation, and intimidation.
(b) The department of education shall develop a model dating violence policy to assist school districts in developing policies for dating violence reporting and response. The model policy shall be issued on or before April 1, 2008.
(c) Each school district shall establish a specific policy to address incidents of dating violence involving students at school by December 1, 2008. Each school district shall verify compliance with the department of education on an annual basis through the annual school health report.
(1) The policy shall include, but not be limited to: a statement that dating violence will not be tolerated; dating violence reporting procedures; guidelines to responding to at school incidents of dating violence; and discipline procedures specific to the incidents.
(2) To ensure notice of the school district’s dating violence policy, the policy shall be published in any school district policy and handbook that sets forth the comprehensive rules, procedures, and standards of conduct for students at school.
(d) Each school district shall provide dating violence training to all administrators, teachers, nurses, and mental health staff at the middle and high school levels. Upon the recommendation of the administrator, other staff may be included or may attend the training on a volunteer basis. The dating violence training shall include, but not be limited to: basic principles of dating violence; warnings signs of dating violence; and the school district’s dating violence policy, to ensure that they are able to appropriately respond to incidents of dating violence at school. Thereafter, this training shall be provided yearly to all newly hired staff deemed appropriate to receive the training by the school’s administration.
(e) Each school district shall inform the students’ parents or legal guardians of the school district’s dating violence policy. If requested, the school district shall provide the parents or legal guardians with the school district’s dating violence policy and relevant information. It is strongly recommended that the school district provide parent awareness training.
(f) Each school district shall collect data regarding instances of student misconduct that are considered dating violence. As part of the usual course of discipline data submission to the department of education, each school district shall specify when a particular infraction is also considered dating violence.
(g) This section does not prevent a victim from seeking redress under any other available law, either civil or criminal. This section does not create or alter any tort liability.
History of Section.P.L. 2007, ch. 287, § 2; P.L. 2007, ch. 490, § 2; P.L. 2021, ch. 319, § 1, effective July 9, 2021; P.L. 2021, ch. 320, § 1, effective July 9, 2021.

Structure Rhode Island General Laws

Rhode Island General Laws

Title 16 - Education

Chapter 16-21 - Health and Safety of Pupils

Section 16-21-1. - Transportation of public and private school pupils.

Section 16-21-1.1. - Student registration for transportation.

Section 16-21-2. - Repealed.

Section 16-21-3. - Standards for school building.

Section 16-21-3.1. - Approval.

Section 16-21-4. - Fire, evacuation and lockdown drills required — Failure to comply.

Section 16-21-5. - Uniform fire code or drill tactics — Reports.

Section 16-21-5.1. - Carbon monoxide detectors required in school buildings.

Section 16-21-6. - Repealed.

Section 16-21-7. - School health.

Section 16-21-7.1. - Unhealthy food and beverage advertising prohibited in schools.

Section 16-21-8. - Certified nurse-teacher.

Section 16-21-9. - Health examinations and dental screenings — Reports — Records.

Section 16-21-10. - Scoliosis screening.

Section 16-21-11. - Repealed.

Section 16-21-12. - Dental treatment provided by town or city.

Section 16-21-13. - Repealed.

Section 16-21-14. - Hearing, speech, and vision screenings — Records — Statewide hearing screening program.

Section 16-21-14.1. - Vision screening.

Section 16-21-15. - Eye protective devices.

Section 16-21-16. - Students suspected of narcotic addiction.

Section 16-21-17. - School bus safety programs.

Section 16-21-18. - Students prohibited from bringing or possessing firearms on school premises.

Section 16-21-19. - Special rules for students with disabilities bringing firearms to school.

Section 16-21-20. - Alternative placement and prevention activities.

Section 16-21-21. - Student discipline codes.

Section 16-21-21.1. - Penalties for drug, alcohol or weapons offenses.

Section 16-21-22. - Allergic emergencies — Anaphylaxis — Use of epinephrine — Immunity for those administering.

Section 16-21-23. - School safety teams, school crisis response teams, and school safety assessments.

Section 16-21-23.1. - Model school safety plans and checklists — Development and dissemination.

Section 16-21-23.2. - Threat assessment teams and oversight committees.

Section 16-21-24. - Requirements of school safety plans, school emergency response plans, and school crisis response plans.

Section 16-21-25. - Review of school safety plans — Exemption from open meetings and public records requirements.

Section 16-21-26. - Repealed.

Section 16-21-27. - Alternative education programs.

Section 16-21-28. - Health and wellness subcommittee.

Section 16-21-28.1. - Legislative findings.

Section 16-21-28.2. - Requirements for glucagon administration in a school setting.

Section 16-21-28.3. - Performance standards.

Section 16-21-28.4. - Immunity for those using glucagon.

Section 16-21-28.5. - Training of school personnel.

Section 16-21-28.6. - Administration.

Section 16-21-29. - Repealed.

Section 16-21-30. - Dating violence policy.

Section 16-21-31. - Notice of peanut/tree nut allergies — Posting.

Section 16-21-32. - Peanut/tree nut allergies.

Section 16-21-33. - Safe schools act.

Section 16-21-33.1. - Automatic external defibrillators.

Section 16-21-34. - Statewide bullying policy implemented.

Section 16-21-35. - Opioid-related drug overdose — Use of opioid antagonists — Immunity for those administering.

Section 16-21-36. - Duty to report — Posting child abuse hotline telephone number.

Section 16-21-37. - Water bottle filling stations in new and renovated schools.

Section 16-21-38. - Availability of feminine hygiene products.

Section 16-21-39. - Sun safety.

Section 16-21-40. - Trauma-informed schools act.

Section 16-21-41. - Trauma-informed schools act commission.