Iowa Senate votes 43-7 to pass anti-bullying bill

The Iowa Senate voted 43-7 Tuesday to pass a bill aimed at curbing bullying of students in kindergarten-through-12th grade schools.

Senate File 345, which was sent to the House, would provide training for school employees, establish a bullying and violence prevention student mentoring pilot program, and provide for a school "climate and bullying work group."

The measure would also grant school officials the authority to investigate alleged incidents of bullying outside of school, including bullying on social media, such as on Facebook and Twitter. In addition, the bill would provide for notification of parents of targeted students and perpetrators in the aftermath of an incident. But it would allow an exception if a school official or the student believed notification would subject the student to rejection, abuse or neglect.

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Sen. Robert Hogg, R-Cedar Rapids, said the legislation is intended to provide a safe learning environment in Iowa's schools. The bill builds upon a safe schools initiative adopted in 2007, he added.

"Unfortunately, there is still too much harassment and bullying in our schools. Nearly 40 percent of our students report being subjected to name-calling or teasing in a hurtful way," Hogg said. "Even more serious, ongoing harassment and bullying can devastate children, endanger their mental and physical health, and leave scars that last into adulthood."

The bill does not provide state funding, which Hogg said must be addressed separately.

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Anti-bullying bills are getting a second chance this session after the Iowa Legislature failed to reach agreement on the topic last year. Gov. Terry Branstad has described the issue as one of his top priorities for the 2015 session, and he and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds issued a statement Tuesday applauding the Senate's bipartisan action and urging the Iowa House to pass the bill.

Branstad and Reynolds pointed to a recent Iowa Poll in the Des Moines Register that showed that 73 percent of Iowans support anti-bullying legislation, even when the incident takes place away from school, including through social media. The poll showed that 23 percent of Iowans were opposed and 4 percent were not sure.

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Reynolds remarked, "As a mother and grandmother, I know it's critically important for Iowa to protect our children from bullying. The simple truth is that bullying is hurtful, and does not support and promote a healthy learning environment."

Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, chairman of the Iowa Senate Education Committee, said the Senate bill is the result of some "very delicate tradeoffs" that were addressed by lawmakers. He said he was especially pleased that Branstad agreed to some of the exceptions for parental notification.

Officials from Iowa Safe Schools and the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa also issued statements praising the Senate bill and urging prompt House action. Connie Ryan Terrell, executive director of the Interfaith Alliance, said she was particularly supportive of the concept of a public-private work group to look more broadly at bullying and to make recommendations based on best practices.