Enhanced anti-bullying bill in the works for NJ schools
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
New Jersey legislators are expected to begin considering a bill on Nov. 15 that would bolster existing educational anti-bullying regulations.
Introduced Oct. 26, it comes in the wake of a spate of bullying-connected suicides around the nation including the widely publicized death of Rutgers student Tyler Clementi, who killed himself after being humiliated online.
Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) and Assemblywomen Mary Pat Angelini (R-Monmouth) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), the package would designate a specific chain of command at schools to crack down on bullying as soon as it is reported.
The bill would augment laws the state passed eight years ago and require anti-bullying programs in K-12 schools throughout New Jersey and language in college codes of conduct to address bullying.
Educators involved with suicide prevention would receive training on harassment and intimidation with the aim of reducing the risk of suicide among students who are considered members of high risk communities.
School board members, resource officers and employees who act as liaisons to law enforcement would be among those receiving training.
In addition, the bill would establish a “Bullying Prevention Fund” within the state Department of Education which would be used to help school districts cover the cost of required training.
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New Jersey legislators are expected to begin considering a bill on Nov. 15 that would bolster existing educational anti-bullying regulations.
Introduced Oct. 26, it comes in the wake of a spate of bullying-connected suicides around the nation including the widely publicized death of Rutgers student Tyler Clementi, who killed himself after being humiliated online.
Sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) and Assemblywomen Mary Pat Angelini (R-Monmouth) and Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), the package would designate a specific chain of command at schools to crack down on bullying as soon as it is reported.
The bill would augment laws the state passed eight years ago and require anti-bullying programs in K-12 schools throughout New Jersey and language in college codes of conduct to address bullying.
Educators involved with suicide prevention would receive training on harassment and intimidation with the aim of reducing the risk of suicide among students who are considered members of high risk communities.
School board members, resource officers and employees who act as liaisons to law enforcement would be among those receiving training.
In addition, the bill would establish a “Bullying Prevention Fund” within the state Department of Education which would be used to help school districts cover the cost of required training.
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