TRENTON, N.J. – Lawmakers approved the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights” on Nov. 22. The bill mandates training for most public school employees on how to spot bullying and requires districts to develop “school safety teams” to review and forward bullying complaints to the state Board of Education.
The legislation also requires public colleges and universities to clearly address bullying policies in their codes of conduct.
According to United Press International, the legislation addresses the gap in an inadequate law passed eight years ago. Responding to incidents of bullying, harassment or intimidation is no longer optional.
The bill passed 71 to 1 with five abstentions in the Assembly. It passed in the Senate 30 to 0. The bill has not yet been signed by Gov. Chris Christie.
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