Minnesota Senate approves anti-bullying bill

Pioneer Press ^ | 4-3-14 | Christopher Magan

[TurboZamboni]

After considering 15 amendments and more than five hours of debate Thursday, state Senators approved a bill to strengthen bullying prevention in Minnesota schools.

The Safe and Supportive Minnesota Schools Act was approved with a 36-31 vote, mostly along party lines. The measure greatly expands Minnesota anti-bullying law that is now just 37 words.

It was a hard-fought victory, said State Sen. Scott Dibble, DFL-Minneapolis, the bill's primary sponsor.

"I'm very, very happy right now," Dibble said after the vote. "It's been a long road. It has been a decade in the making trying to convince people that this problem is real."

The bill still has to clear another hurdle before it becomes law. House members, who approved the bill last year, must agree with changes made in the Senate before it can be sent to Gov. Mark Dayton for his signature.

Members of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party and their supporters have said passing bullying prevention legislation was a top priority for this legislative session.

[Tea Party Terrorist]

Too bad “bullying” now is simply disagreeing with a leftist, or expressing any opinion contrary to left wing sensibility.

[MNGal]

I’m really disappointed to see this.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Ayup, this sounds like it is just begging to get misused against some “overly conservative” kid.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Bullying is going on... liberal bullying.

[TurboZamboni]

Anti-Bullying Bill ‘Safe?’ Check the Hidden Agenda
http://www.minnesotamajority.org/anti-bullying-bill-safe-check-the-hidden-agenda/

[smokingfrog]

Well, I’m glad we finally solved that problem.

Don’t these busybodies have anything better to do?

[HiTech RedNeck]

But a glance at the bill raises troubling questions. Why doesn’t it protect all children equally, instead of singling out for favored treatment children of “protected classes,” such as race, sexual orientation, and “gender identity and expression”? Why are traditional victims of bullying, like kids who are timid or viewed as nerds, invisible in this bill?

If I were a timid nerd I would be up in arms. It is WORSE than useless!

[freedumb2003]

>>Too bad “bullying” now is simply disagreeing with a leftist, or expressing any opinion contrary to left wing sensibility.<<

It is easily defined.

It is being “Bossy.”

[HiTech RedNeck]

Is there a Minnesota list?

[TurboZamboni]

don’t worry. the dems are also working on banning the scourge of e-cigs.

[TurboZamboni]

yeah. not sure if it’s still run by MPLSSteve.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Hey??

[Pining_4_TX]

We could do away with most bullying by getting rid of government schools. If schools had to please parents, they would care what happens to students. Bureaucrats don’t give a rat’s whisker. It’s all about keeping up appearances and not making waves.

[smokingfrog]

the scourge of e-cigs -- and second-hand water vapor...

Oh, the humanity!

[TurboZamboni]

The primary engine behind the “Safe Schools” bill is OutFront Minnesota, the state’s largest LGBT advocacy group. OutFront’s legal director was a member of Gov. Mark Dayton’s 2012 Task Force on the Prevention of School Bullying, which gave rise to this bill, and its leadership directs the “Safe Schools for All Coalition.”

[TurboZamboni]

damn you water vapor exhaling evil frogs!

[HiTech RedNeck]

Timid nerds unite. Gays are getting in your face and now they are proposing you can’t do squat about it.

[artichokegrower]

Can’t make fun of Norwegians?

[HiTech RedNeck]

Uff da.