Montana Code Annotated 2023

TITLE 20. EDUCATION

CHAPTER 5. PUPILS

Part 2. Duties -- Prohibitions -- Penalties

Bullying Of Student Prohibited -- Self-Defense Authorized

20-5-209. Bullying of student prohibited -- self-defense authorized. (1) Bullying of a student enrolled in a public K-12 school by another student or an employee is prohibited.

(2) A student who is physically attacked is entitled to use physical force that is reasonable and necessary for self-protection.

(3) A student who witnesses another person being physically attacked is entitled to use reasonable and necessary physical restraint, defined as the placing of hands on another in a manner that is reasonable or necessary to protect the person from physical harm.

(4) A school district shall investigate a student's use of physical force and may not reprimand or discipline a student who is found through the investigation to have more likely than not used physical force for self-protection or in protection of another pursuant to subsection (3).

History: En. Sec. 3, Ch. 253, L. 2015; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 266, L. 2023.