news-record.com

Bullying bill gets tentative approval from the House

Update: Click here for a PDF of the vote breakdown on the SVPA.

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Update: Click here for the bill information from the NC General Assembly re: S 526, the School Violence Prevention Act.

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Update: Rep. James Boles, R-Southern Pines, appears to be the lone republican voting FOR S 526, SPVA, the bullying bill.

House Democrats to vote against: Reps. Van Braxton, William Brisson, Jim Crawford, Jimmy Love, Tim Spear, Ronnie Sutton and Arthur Williams.

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Schools would be required to enact policies that curb bullying under a bill the House passed 59-57 Monday night. Because of a procedural objection, a second House vote will be needed to send the measure to Gov. Bev Perdue’s desk. The Senate has already approved the bill.

The proposed law is consider controversial largely because it enumerates categories of people who may not be bullied, including those singled out because of their gender identity. Political conservatives say this would confer special protections on gay, transgendered and bisexual people that could bleed over into other aspects of law.

Guilford County Schools already has an anti-bullying policy that at least as detailed as the one called for in the bill.

Rep. John Blust, a Greensboro Republican, complained that many of the bills supporters had blocked measures to give teachers greater authority in their classrooms.

“Many of those same people don’t want to allow teachers and administrators to be real strong disciplinarians,” Blust said.

But Rep. Alma Adams said that the bill was needed.

“Discrimination, whether it is about age, or race or gender or anything else is a bad thing,” she said. “This bill is a good thing.”

Local representatives who voted in favor of the bill included: Reps. Alma Adams, D-Greensboro; Nelson Cole, D-Reidsville; Pricey Harrison, D-Greensboro; Hugh Holliman, D-Lexington; Maggie Jeffus, D-Greensboro; Earl Jones, D-Greesnboro;

Local votes against include: Reps. John Blust, R-Greensboro; Harold Brubaker, R-Asheboro; Pat Hurley, R-Asheboro; Laura Wiley, R-High Point