Purpose

Designates February 13 each year as Minnesota Anti-Bullying Anti-Harassment and Defamation Awareness Day. The bill recognizes that bullying, harassment, and defamation harm the safety, wellbeing, learning, productivity, and health of students, employees, and community members. It asks schools, employers, state agencies, and community organizations to observe the day with educational programs, employee training, student assemblies, respectful behavior campaigns, prevention tools, and supportive services addressing these issues and reputational harm from false statements. The governor may promote and encourage the observance of the day.

Main provisions

• Establishment of an annual awareness day on February 13 to focus attention on bullying, harassment, and defamation.
• Encouragement for various groups (schools, employers, state agencies, community organizations) to observe the day through educational activities, training, assemblies, campaigns, prevention tools, and supportive services aimed at reducing bullying, harassment, and reputational harm caused by false statements.
• The governor is empowered to promote and encourage the observance of the day.

Definitions

• Bullying: Repeated, aggressive behavior or unwanted conduct that involves an imbalance of power and creates a hostile, intimidating, or abusive environment, including electronic bullying or cyberbullying.
• Harassment: Unwelcome behavior based on an individual's actual or perceived traits or characteristics that interferes with participation in school or work environments.
• Defamation: False statements of fact communicated to others that harm a person’s reputation.

Limitations and legal effect

• This section does not create a new cause of action, does not expand liability, and does not alter existing legal standards or definitions related to defamation or free speech. In other words, it designates a day and clarifies that observing it does not change civil rights or defamation law.

Significance and potential impact

• Creates a state-recognized observance to promote awareness and prevention of bullying, harassment, and defamation.
• Encourages practical actions (education, training, assemblies, campaigns) to reduce harm in schools, workplaces, and communities.
• Maintains a clear boundary that the designation does not change existing defamation or free speech laws.

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