Anti-bullying bill makes MN Capitol debut
A bill to replace Minnesota's anti-bullying statute made its first committee appearance Thursday at the state House.
The bill's House author state Rep. Jim Davnie, DFL-Minneapolis, said the measure aims to strengthen Minnesota's anti-bullying law.
• Special report: Minnesota, Weak on Bullying
"It replaces the current weak polices that are seen as ineffective and do not power teachers and administrators to act, even when they witness issues of bullying," Davnie said.
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The bill requires school districts to work with students and parents on policies to prevent bullying.
It also requires schools to investigate all formal complaints of bullying.
The bill sets aside $1 million for a center at the Minnesota Department of Education to help schools develop anti-bullying policies, but doesn't offer funding for schools to implement the programs.
Minnesota current anti-bullying law is considered one of the weakest in the nation. At only 37 words it doesn't provide districts guidance on how to prevent bullying.