Colorado Cyberbullying Bill Passes House

DENVER (AP) — Bullying through text messages or social media would be a misdemeanor in Colorado under a bill passed by the state House.

House lawmakers passed the bill on a 54-10 vote Monday, sending it to the Senate. The bill would make it a misdemeanor to inflict "serious emotional distress on a minor" with texts or on social media.

District attorneys who spoke in support of the bill say it would give them more flexibility to prosecute cyberbullying. But the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar argues that cyberbullying can already be prosecuted with the state's current harassment statute.

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