Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights (H 5354)

Though bullying is a scourge, a piece of legislation which would have statutorily created an “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights” drew our opposition over concerns about its breadth, including provisions which would have substantially increased the role of law enforcement personnel on school campuses and greatly expanded the offenses under which a student could be given an out-of-school suspension or expelled. We noted that such harsh disciplinary protocols would likely disproportionately and negatively impact students of color and LGBTQ students and urged rejection of the legislation. Thankfully, the bill died in committee.