Anti-Bullying

Anti-bullying bill advances in Maine Legislature

AUGUSTA -  A bill to protect students in Maine schools from bullying moved closer to becoming law last week with votes for approval in both the House and Senate.  The bill, sponsored by State Rep. Terry Morrison, D-South Portland, seeks to provide better definitions for bullying and to provide schools a framework to deal with the issue.

"We have worked hard to avoid a cookie cutter approach or top down edicts to schools on how to deal with this problem," said Morrison.  "This legislation seeks only to provide clear definitions so all schools are working from the same place and general guidelines and responsibilities.  I truly believe that with these basics our schools will have the framework they need to create innovative policies that address bullying for their particular school and community."

While Maine law currently requires schools to have anti-bullying policies in place, definitions and guidelines for schools to use in the creation of those important policies have been weak.  The result has been a myriad of school policies that address bullying.  The bill seeks to provide definitions for bullying, cyber-bullying and what constitutes "at school" given the growing amount of activity over computers and other digital devices.  It also provides a general framework to school units on how to address bullying, including prevention efforts for school boards to use when crafting their policies.

Morrison presented the bill to the Legislature's Education Committee where it received a favorable recommendation from the majority of the committee.  The bill received unanimous support in initial votes in the Maine House and Senate.  

The bill will require further action in the closing days of this legislative session in order to become law.