Anti-bullying bill moves closer to passage
State representatives have given initial approval to the School Violence Prevention Act, which requires school districts to approve anti-bullying rules by the end of the year.
Posted — UpdatedSponsors of the bill say it helps children who are victims of bullies, like Natalie Sbraccia's 13-year-old daughter.
“She was fearful at the bus stop. She was afraid at any given moment that she was going to be attacked,” Sbraccia said.
Sbraccia gathered evidence of the threats and took them to administrators at the Granville County middle school her daughter attended, but she said no action was taken.
The bill identifies a bully as a person who makes written, electronic or verbal threats on school property and school buses.
School districts would have to list characteristics, such as race, religion, sexual orientation and gender identity, of a student who could be predisposed to bullying behavior.
"Only 23 of the 100-plus school districts in North Carolina have a comprehensive policy that addresses a range of issues,” Stein said.
"For you to be able to go to the school district and pull the policy up on the Web and show the administration, you are going to have a better hearing,” Stein said.
Sbraccia says the harassment against her daughter eventually stopped but not until the bully was taken out of school for a fight with another student.
The Senate has already passed the legislation. It needs one more pro House vote before it goes to Gov. Bev Perdue to sign into law.
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