House Passes Anti-Bullying Bill

Published March 30, 2010 at 9:00 p.m.

(WSB Radio State Capitol Bureau) -- A bill to expand Georgia's anti-bullying law is revived after it failed to make Friday's Crossover Day.

Rep. Mike Jacobs, sponsor of HB 927 was able to successfully amend it onto a Senate bill that makes it a criminal offense to disrupt or cause interference with the operation of a school bus.

"The bullying bill was about one thing and one thing only, giving parents and local school systems more tools to address real life problems that exist in our schools," he says.

Under the plan, the state's bullying statute would apply to all grades, not just middle and high schools.  School systems would also have to establish a system to notify parents when an incident involving bullying occurs.

House Minority Whip Rep. Carolyn Hugley had sponsored similar legislation after the death of DeKalb fifth grader Jaaheem Herrera who committee suicide last year after he was bullied.  She also referred a recent case in Boston where a 15-year-old girl did the same thing.

"This is the day we can finally do something to further protect our children against harrassment at the very place where they should be safe," says Hugley.

Senate Bill  250 passed 119-45 and now goes back to the Senate to approve the changes made in the House.

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