Anti-bullying bill passes Iowa Senate with broad support

DES MOINES - A package of measures designed to address bullying in Iowa schools passed the Iowa Senate with broad bipartisan support Tuesday.

By a 43-7 vote, senators approved the legislation, which is a top priority of Gov. Terry Branstad.

'Every child in Iowa deserves to go to school in a safe and respectful learning environment. The passage of Senate File 345 will give schools the tools they need to prevent bullying,” Branstad said in a statement.

'I'm hopeful that the bill will receive support in the Iowa House and come to my desk for final approval.”

The proposal approved by the Senate would:

l Give schools the authority to address off-grounds and online incidents.

l Require parental notification of incidents while allowing exceptions if the victim may be threatened further.

l Create training programs for school officials and a statewide task force to provide ongoing analysis of bullying issues.

The House bill is largely the same, but it also allocates roughly $200,000 for some of the programs. The Senate bill omitted the funding, leaving it instead for the budgeting process.

The bills would expand Iowa's 2007 safe schools law.

'Unfortunately, there is still too much harassment and bullying in our schools. Nearly 40 percent of our students report being subjected to name-calling or teasing in a hurtful way,” said Sen. Rob Hogg, R-Cedar Rapids, who managed the Senate bill.

'Even more serious, ongoing harassment and bullying can devastate children, endanger their mental and physical health, and leave scars that last into adulthood.”

Advocates for anti-bullying legislation - including Nate Monson, the executive director of the non-profit Iowa Safe Schools, and Connie Ryan Terrell, the executive director of Interfaith Alliance of Iowa & Action Fund - applauded the senators' support of the bill.

'The bipartisan vote today on Senate File 345 ensures students are protected, parents can be involved in the process and the state develops the necessary infrastructure to prevent bullying,” Monson said in a prepared statement.

'Too many students have hurt each other and themselves over this issue for this to wait any longer. I strongly urge the Iowa House to take up this bill immediately and protect Iowa's youth.”

In order for the Senate version to survive a legislative deadline, it must be approved this week by a House committee.

The House version, because it contains the funding allocation, remains eligible after this week's deadline.

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