NATIONAL COALITION OF SCHOOL BUS SAFETY NEWS 2007

Anti-Bullying Push Makes Headway

A push to require school districts to be more vigilant about monitoring and reporting acts of bullying continues to work its way through the legislature.

Several versions have bounced between the House and the state Senate in recent weeks with different drafts challenged for various technical reasons.

The latest draft would result in districts losing some of their state education assistance funding if they fail to establish clear bullying policies and fail to report incidents to the state. Although the state passed an anti-bullying law several years ago, lawmakers have been concerned that some districts, which have reported no incidents of bullying, may not be abiding by the law.

Bill opponents say it intrudes on local board autonomy and increases the likelihood that students who get into physical altercations in school may be accused of bullying and suffer unreasonable consequences.

After rejecting a Senate version of the bill several weeks ago, the House passed the most recent draft May 31 by a 108-39 vote. The bill was returned to the Senate for further consideration.

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