By Jillian Farrel -- February 24, 2010
A Massachusetts legislative committee passed a bill on Tuesday that will attempt to significantly reduce bullying at schools.
The bill is supported by the Joint Committee on Education and is headed to the Senate.
The bill would "prohibit bullying at school and all facilities; at school-sponsored or school-related functions; on school buses and at school bus stops; through the use of technology or an electric device owned, licensed, or used by a school; and at non-school related locations and through non-school technology or electronic devices if the bullying affects the school environment."
This bill was proposed after a South Hadley teenager committed suicide following apparent harassment from her peers.
This proposed law would force the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to develop bullying-prevention and prevention plans. Every school district in the state would then be required to procure such a plan.
Gov. Deval Patrick approved the bill, stating, "the time for action against bullying is now and I commend the Legislature for moving this bill forward. As governor and as a parent, I cannot and will not accept children feeling unsafe at school. Let's give teachers and administrators the tools they need to make schools safer places."
Another provision to the bill would mandate those on the autism spectrum to receive counseling on how to respond to verbal slandering, mocking, or harassment. Bullying has extended to autistic children throughout the state.
The Senate is expected to vote on the bill March 9.
