A bill to end cyberbullying will be introduced to the House Wednesday. The bill would prohibit any behavior considered to be bullying between K-12 students as well as between faculty members and students.
Co-sponsor of the bill Rep. Mike Fasano said the bill would require each school board to adopt an individual policy against bullying and harassment in schools. He said the consequences of breaking the law would be left in the hands of the school system instead of being established by law enforcement or the bill itself.
"The bill, if it were to pass, would define bullying as systematically and chronically inflicting the physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students," he said.
Fasano said bullying may include teasing, social exclusion, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, theft, public humiliation, destruction of property and sexual, religious or racial harassment.
"This can no longer or cannot at all be tolerated at our school districts," he said.
Fasano says there is a very good chance the bill will pass. The bill has been filed and is being heard by the K-12 subcommittee, which he said is a good sign that it is moving in the right direction.
Jensen Werley wrote this story online.