20-5-208. Definition. (1) "Bullying" means any harassment, intimidation, hazing, or threatening, insulting, or demeaning gesture or physical contact, including any intentional written, verbal, or electronic communication or threat directed against a student that is persistent, severe, or repeated and that:

(a) causes a student physical harm, damages a student's property, or places a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student or the student's property;

(b) creates a hostile environment by interfering with or denying a student's access to an educational opportunity or benefit; or

(c) substantially and materially disrupts the orderly operation of a school.

(2) The term includes retaliation against a victim or witness who reports information about an act of bullying and includes acts of hazing associated with athletics or school-sponsored organizations or groups.