House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

In the near future, I plan to re-introduce House Bill 2535 of the 2011-2012 Legislative Session, to further address school bullying policies.

Heinous acts of bullying have a destructive impact on young children and adolescents and can stymie the ability of our schools to provide a positive educational atmosphere for students. The National Education Association estimates that 160,000 children miss school each day in fear of being bullied, and it has been reported that one out of ten students drop out of school due to such mistreatment. The inexcusable act of bullying children with special needs and disabilities is especially alarming. The Journal of Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology reported that children with disabilities are ten times more likely to be bullied than those without. As members of the General Assembly, it is our duty to protect the people of this Commonwealth, which is why I am introducing legislation to further shield children from bullying.

My legislation, which amends Section 1303.1-A of the Public School Code of 1949, will expand bullying protection to all students by requiring the enactment of a bullying policy by all nonpublic schools. This bill further requires schools to enforce the bullying policy on school property, at school-sponsored functions, and during the transportation to or from the school or school-sponsored functions. Finally, the legislation requires all school entities and nonpublic schools to establish additional disciplinary consequences for any individual that bullies a student with a disability.

Previous Cosponsors: MICCARELLI, BISHOP, V. BROWN, CARROLL, COHEN, COX, DAVIS, DEAN, DEASY, DeLUCA, HORNAMAN, JOSEPHS, W. KELLER, KORTZ, MAHONEY, MURT, PARKER, READSHAW, ROEBUCK, SCHMOTZER, STURLA, SWANGER, YOUNGBLOOD, DALEY, JAMES, STABACK, GIBBONS, BRADFORD and DONATUCCI