NJ steps up with the toughest anti-bullying legislation to date
Gov. Chris Christie has signed a bill advocates say gives New Jersey the toughest anti-bullying law in the nation.
Christie signed the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights,” according to a press release from Garden State Equality, the state’s largest gay rights organization, which advocated for the bill.
The new law is intended to eliminate loopholes in the state’s first anti-bullying law, passed in 2002, that encouraged school districts to set up anti-bullying programs but did not mandate it.
It will require training for most public school teachers, administrators and other employees on how to spot bullying and mandate that all districts form a “school safety team” to review complaints. School districts would be graded by the state on their efforts to combat the problem.
Administrators who do not investigate reported incidents of bullying would be disciplined, while students who bully could be suspended or expelled. School employees would also be required to report all incidents they learn of, whether they took place in or outside of school.
The bill sailed through the Assembly and Senate in November. It passed 73-1, with 5 abstentions, in the Assembly. It passed the Senate 30-0.
Christie signed the bill Wednesday, spokesman Michael Drewniak said.
“He signed it, and we’re overjoyed,” said state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), one of the bill’s prime sponsors.
State Sen. Diane Allen (R-Burlington), also a prime sponsor, said while the law won’t end bullying, school employees will know how to better deal with it.
“While we cannot change human nature, we can change how government and school officials respond to unacceptable behavior,” she said.
The bill, in the works for almost a year, gained publicity and momentum after the suicide of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi, whose roommate streamed a romantic encounter between him and another man over the internet.
Congrats to Gov. Christie for stepping up to this. Now, let’s see them put it in place.
Related posts:
- Georgia Senate Unanimously Passes Anti-Bullying Measure Late last night, the Georgia State Senate unanimously passed legislation...
- Illinois House Approves Gay, Transgender Anti-Bullying Bill This past Friday, Illinois House members joined state senators in...
- Mass. Legislature Approves Anti-Bullying Law. Now Off to the Governor The state Legislature has unanimously approved a state law cracking...
- Baby steps forward in the fight against bullying Well, these two items give me cause for a smile....
- Stop Student Bullying – Sign the Petition It was a year ago today that Carl Walker-Hoover took...
