Public schools; antibullying measures. (HB1575)

Introduced By

Del. David Englin (D-Alexandria) with support from co-patron Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-Alexandria)

Progress

Introduced
Passed Committee
Passed House
Passed Senate
Signed by Governor
Became Law

Description

Public schools; antibullying measures.  Adds specificity to the codes of student conduct required of local school divisions in terms of how incidents of bullying, harassment, and intimidation are handled. The bill provides that teacher training in this area be required, and that incidents of bullying, harassment, and intimidation be reported to the division superintendent. The bill also requires that the codes of student conduct hold school administrators responsible for implementing the procedures outlined in the local policy. Read the Bill »

Outcome

Bill Has Failed

History

DateAction
01/05/2011Committee
01/05/2011Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/12/11 11100889D
01/05/2011Referred to Committee on Education
01/18/2011Assigned Education sub: #2 Students and Daycare
01/24/2011Impact statement from DPB (HB1575)
01/27/2011Subcommittee recommends passing by with letter
01/31/2011Passed by in Education with letter

Comments

Equality Virginia, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

This bill enhances current state law prohibiting bullying in public schools and establishes new training and reporting requirements. Equality Virginia supports this bill.

Ruth Perkinson writes:

As a former public school teacher in Henrico County Public Schools, I support this bill and the other 14 that EQV is supporting. We need to open the dialogue in the pubic school forum to educate and edify people everywhere that bullying will not be tolerated. Teachers and Administrators need training and true reporting is completely warranted. Good luck to Delegate Englin and EQV.

Open the dialogue and the abusive language, the abusive ignorance, and the abuse in total will begin to be assuaged. It's what every school needs beginning at the earliest of ages.

Ruth Perkinson

Martha Wood writes:

I support this legislation and its requirement of education for educators and I believe there needs to be a companion piece of required education for those students in grades 6-12 who engage in bullying or harassing behavior toward others who become their victims. Virginia will not have safe schools until it works to ensure that its schools are free of bullying and harassment of GLBT youth.

I am a retired middle school teacher.

People of Faith for Equality in Virginia, tracking this bill in Photosynthesis, notes:

Full Support (We want to focus on training and reporting of bullying as means to help stop the systemic problems of GLBT and perceived youth) **Update: The bill has been referred to the Bell study, HJ625, amidst our objections. We hope that Del. David Englin will be able to help guide that study towards progressive and tested measures to stop bullying.)