TRENTON — The "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights" was in the works long before the suicide of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi made headlines. But the tragedy — which happened after Clementi’s roommate allegedly streamed a romantic encounter between him and another man online — helped persuade lawmakers to act with "lightning speed," sponsors said Monday after the bill easily cleared...
TRENTON — The "Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights" was in the works long before the suicide of Rutgers freshman Tyler Clementi made headlines.
But the tragedy — which happened after Clementi’s roommate allegedly streamed a romantic encounter between him and another man online — helped persuade lawmakers to act with "lightning speed," sponsors said Monday after the bill easily cleared both houses of the state Legislature
"I’m certain that this highlighted the urgency," said Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), one of the bill’s prime sponsors.
Supporters of the bill (A3466), which now advances to Gov. Chris Christie, said it would give New Jersey the strictest anti-bullying statute in the nation.
The measure fills gaps 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.
"Some districts have done an impressive job in answering that call. Others have not," said Vaineri Huttle.
The measure would require training for most public school employees on how to spot bullying and mandate that all districts form "school safety teams" to review complaints. Superintendents would have to report incidents of bullying to the state Board of Education, which would grade schools and districts on their efforts to combat it.
Public colleges and universities would also be required to include a policy on bullying in its code of conduct.
"This bill reflects the public’s increased awareness of the need for a renewal of values of respect for human dignity and personal privacy, particularly for young people in this time of
rapidly evolving technology," Clementi’s family said in a statement issued through their attorney, Paul Mainardi.
The bill passed the Assembly 71-1, with five abstentions, and 30-0 in the Senate. Christie spokesman Michael Drewniak could not say Monday what the governor will do. "The bill moved very quickly through the Legislature, so we will just want to review it closely," he said.
The only lawmaker to vote against the bill was Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll (R-Morris), who objected to the fact that it explicitly mentions categories of students subject to bullying, although it also includes a catch-all clause to include any "distinguishing characteristics."
"Why can’t it just say if someone does X or Y or Z, that counts as bullying?" said Carroll.
Deborah Jacobs, executive director of the New Jersey ACLU, said the bill is "90 percent good" but should not give school officials authority to discipline students for things that happens outside of school, which she said would be unconstitutional.
When the measure passed, Kim and John Otto of Haddonfield embraced and pulled out a cell phone to text message the news to their son, John, 16, a gay student who had contemplated suicide after being bullied two years ago.
"This sends a clear message not only to John, but to every other child — every student who has been bullied — that this will not be tolerated," Kim Otto said.
Previous coverage:
• N.J. Assembly, Senate pass 'Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights' in wake of Tyler Clementi's death
• Higher education anti-bullying bill is presented to U.S. House, Senate in memory of Tyler Clementi
• Anti-bullying Bill of Rights sails through N.J. Assembly, Senate education committees
• N.J. Senate advances stricter anti-bullying law following suicide of Tyler Clementi
• N.J. lawmakers to hold hearings on proposed anti-bullying laws following Rutgers suicide
• Uncertainty looms over whether anti-bullying measures may have played role in Tyler Clementi's death
• N.J. proposal to toughen anti-bullying laws follows Rutgers student suicide
• N.J. lawmakers introduce 'Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights' in wake of Tyler Clementi suicide