Texas House Passes Tougher Rules For School Bullies

AUSTIN (AP) - The Texas House wants to institute tougher rules for dealing with school bullies.

The bill authored by Arlington state Rep. Diane Patrick adds cyber-bullying to the definition of harassment that schools can punish. The proposed law would also require schools to teach staff how to identify and respond to bullying.

Several students in Texas have killed themselves after persistent bullying via the Internet. The bill is designed to force schools to take bullying seriously and give them the power to act. The bill would allow schools to transfer the bully to another classroom or school and to protect those that report bullying.

School districts will also be required to post a formal policy on bullying.

A similar bill has passed the senate. The two bills will have to be reconciled.

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