Gov. Christie signs 'Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights'

Source: NJ.com

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie has signed a bill advocates say gives New Jersey the toughest anti-bullying law in the nation.

Christie signed the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights,” according to a press release from Garden State Equality, the state’s largest gay rights organization, which advocated for the bill.

The new law is intended to eliminate loopholes in the state’s first anti-bullying law, passed in 2002, that encouraged school districts to set up anti-bullying programs but did not mandate it.

It will require training for most public school teachers, administrators and other employees on how to spot bullying and mandate that all districts form a "school safety team" to review complaints. School districts would be graded by the state on their efforts to combat the problem.

Administrators who do not investigate reported incidents of bullying would be disciplined, while students who bully could be suspended or expelled. School employees would also be required to report all incidents they learn of, whether they took place in or outside of school.

Read more: http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2011/01/gov_christie_signs_anti-bullyi.html

He is the classic bully.

exactly.

nt.

I'm all for this.

from a NJ paper.

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20110105/OPINION02/110103058/1095/OPINION/Governor+should+be+poster+boy+for+bullies

I testified in support of this bill in front of the Senate and Assembly Education committees and was invited to sit on the floor of both chambers during the full vote. The only one standing the way of this bill was Christie and even the Republicans didn't know if he would sign it.

No signing ceremony and out of the 3 bills he signed yesterday, the anti-bullying bill didn't get a press release from his office, but the other two did.

Anyway, I'm still thrilled it was signed without Christie using a conditional veto, where the Governor can send a bill back to both houses with his suggested changes in writing, but the bill then has to be re-passed by both houses.

Again, very happy for you and NJ.

I've advocated for what seems like the most commonsense legislation (never testified, didn't get that far), only to be crushed like a bug.

Glad to see one turn out well.

You did your best but please don't let that deter you from continuing to push for what you know is right, despite the insurmountable odds. You are the people that make a difference in the places where others have given up and it will be you that we thank once there is equality in your area.

:applause:

So, yeah, it feels pretty great to go from beginning last year with such crushing disappointment to starting this new year with another win for equality in New Jersey.

:)

instead of wasting time blaming video games, stuff like Virginia Tech wouldn't have happened