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HB 945

Reporting of Sexual Assault on School Buses.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by John Bell and 7 co-sponsors

Requires reporting if acts of school violence occur on a school bus; increases biannual public reports and imposes Class I felony for failing to report.

Passed 1st Reading
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Bill Summary · HB 945

Summary — HB 945: Reporting of Sexual Assault on School Buses

Status: Passed 1st Reading (filed Nov. 12, 2024)
Primary sponsors (NC version): Representatives Cotham, Biggs, Bell

Purpose

To improve data collection and oversight of school-related violent incidents by (1) requiring reports to indicate whether an incident occurred on a school bus, (2) increasing the frequency of statewide reporting on acts of school violence from annual to biannual, and (3) creating a criminal penalty for failure to report as required.

Key provisions

  • Amends G.S. 115C‑12(21) (Duty to Monitor Acts of School Violence).
  • Standard definitions: The State Board of Education must adopt standard definitions for acts of school violence and a standard report format.
  • Local reporting timeline: Local boards of education must report acts of school violence to the State Board within 5 days of occurrence using the State Board’s standard format.
  • School-bus indicator: Local reports must specify whether the act occurred on a school bus; the State Board must include this data in its reports.
  • Reporting frequency and recipients: The State Board must submit reports biannually — at the end of the second and fourth quarters of each school year — to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House, and the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee (replacing the prior annual March 15 submission).
  • Public record and privacy: Reports are public records, but sensitive identifying information about minors must be redacted.
  • Criminal penalty: Failure of a local school administrative unit employee or a member of a local board of education to make a required report to the State Board is made a Class I felony.
  • Effective date: The act becomes effective when enacted and applies beginning with the 2025–2026 school year (per the version text).

Who is affected

  • State Board of Education: must adopt definitions, collect, analyze and submit reports twice yearly.
  • Local boards of education and school administrative unit employees: required to report incidents within 5 days and to indicate school‑bus involvement.
  • Students, parents, school transportation staff, and district administrators: impacted by increased reporting, possible policy changes, and confidentiality procedures.
  • Lawmakers and oversight bodies: will receive more frequent data for oversight and policy decisions.
  • Individuals who fail to report: subject to criminal prosecution (Class I felony).

Potential impact

  • Improves visibility of incidents occurring on school buses, enabling targeted prevention (training, supervision, policy changes).
  • Increases administrative burden on local units to meet five‑day reporting and data quality standards.
  • Introduces significant criminal liability, which may prompt stricter local reporting protocols and training but could raise concerns about prosecutorial use and due process in reporting failures.
  • Public access to redacted reports may support research and legislative oversight while protecting student privacy.

Implementation/Timeline

  • Applies starting with the 2025–2026 school year (per bill text). Local districts should expect to align reporting systems, staff training, and redaction/privacy procedures to meet the five‑day reporting deadline and biannual State Board submissions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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