New Jersey moves closer to historic anti-bullying measures

By Staff Writer

The New Jersey Senate and Assembly recently passed legislation that, if signed by the governor, would enforce the strictest anti-bullying laws in the U.S.

According to the New Jersey Star-Ledger, the lawmakers swiftly approved A3466, also known as the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights. The bill, which passed 71-1 in the Assembly and 30-0 in the Senate, now heads to the desk of Governor Chris Christie.

If enacted, the law would require special training for most public school employees on how to spot bullying. It would also mandate that all school districts form special committees to review complaints of harrasment or violence among the student body. School administrators would be subject to punishment if they do not report all incidents, and students who are caught bullying may be suspended or expelled.

The Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights has been in the works for almost a year, according to the news provider, but it gained publicity and momentum following the suicide of a freshman at Rutgers University, who was bullied because of his sexual orientation.

A survey funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development reveals that more than 16 percent of U.S. children said that they had been bullied by other students during the current school term.