Cyberbullying Legislation Passes Michigan Senate, House Still to Vote

Cyberbullying Legislation Passes Michigan Senate, House Still to Vote
(C. Proxmire, Dec. 10, 2014)
 
The “Matt Epling Safe School Law” was passed in the State Senate Tuesday, with 30 members voting yes and 7 voting no. SB 74 was introduced by Senator Glenn Anderson, a Democrat who represents Garden City, Livonia, Redford Township and Westland.
It is named after a young man who took his own life, prompting his parents to become advocates for protecting children.
The bill requires schools to add cyberbullying to their existing anti-bullying policies.  “Electronic or online bullying, dubbed cyberbullying, has become the primary source of bullying among school aged children. Like many states across the country Michigan has seen an increase in tragic teen suicide stemming from acts of cyberbullying. The bill also requires that local school districts report to the state the number of instances of bullying that they discipline under the policy and adds a confidentiality clause so that children can report bullying without fear of other students,” Anderson said in a press release.
 
“I am very pleased that the Senate finally took action to advance this important legislation. This legislation will directly contribute to the safety of students in schools across Michigan. I am so thankful to have had the solid support from Matt’s parents, Kevin and Tammy Epling, since I began working on this issue nine years ago. They were instrumental in turning a personal tragedy into something good for students across Michigan.”
 
In 2012 the legislature passed a weaker anti-bullying law, that Senator Anderson opposed because he felt it did not go far enough to protect kids. The bill was controversial because some legislatures had wanted it to include “religious exemptions” that would have given students the right to put down other students based on religious beliefs and in the end became a meeker version than intended.
 
The Bill has been sent to the House of Representatives, where it’s been referred to the House committee on Education, chaired by Republican State House member Lisa Lyons.
 
Read the full text of the bill at http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/2013-2014/billintroduced/Senate/htm/2013-SIB-0074.htm.
Previous stories:
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/11/01/prosecutor-speaks-on-dangers-of-sexting-bullying-and-other-crimes-video/.
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/09/28/royal-oak-safe-addresses-issue-of-suicide-video/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2013/10/06/lake-orion-students-grow-support-system-to-prevent-suicide-video/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/12/08/guest-view-opening-the-door-talking-truth-about-teen-suicide/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/05/29/birmingham-girl-scout-honored-for-suicide-prevention-work/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/02/26/nearly-200-attend-lake-orion-suicide-prevention-forum-video/

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